N Heads are better than one

[mizarchivist]

Ok. Here's the situation. Some of you already know about it.
I, like a fool, let my contacts perscription run out a month or two ago, but I did not get more because... well, $. (Credit cards, next time, dearie)

I also have about 6 months worth contacts. For my left eye. Don't ask, long story. But there they are, still useful save for the fact that my right eye is weaker.

Now I'm stuck with a perscrip that has run out, an HMO that refuses to pay for eye exams more than once every 24 months and an eye doctor who won't even let me get right eye contacts.

The HMO says: see if your PCP will write a referral for a medically necessary visit. (My eyes are fine, so "medically necessary" would be a subjective term here.)
The new prospective eye doctor (because I'll be damned if I return to the original if I can help it) won't accept a referral, so maybe they won't be my eye doctor afterall... I am concerned that /every/ office will do this though.

So, what do I do? It looks like I might as well just cough up the 50-90 bucks to get a new perscrip., so I can get my frickin' contacts. I'd be quite glad for any advice you can give me so that I am not getting screwed over.

(Moral of the story: Buy 2 years of contacts before the year is up. Too late for now, but you can be damned sure it won't happen again.)

Comments

[haptotrope.livejournal.com]

Off topic, but I got a note that someone found the book-box! yay!

On topic, this is why I have 3 pairs of glasses... I need contacts like I need to poke m'self in the eye.

[dbang.livejournal.com]

Try 1-800-Contacts. IIRC, they don't actually ask for the doc's written prescription -- if you have your old script (or the boxes your contacts came in) you can just enter the values and they mail the contacts to you. Cheap, too.

[looks around furtively, whispers] I also admit that one time (ages ago, when money was very tight) I took my scrip, whited out the year and wrote in a year later, then copied it and sent it to the optometrist. They didn't notice and I got my glasses.

[mizarchivist]

Hm. Well, I was almost going to go through the pain of them last week, but their web interface is such a hassle, I bailed, called the eye doc directly, then got shooed off. I'm a bit leery that this'll work, but I'll give it a shot. Mostly because I recall a message saying "yer perscrip is about to run out, yo"
Also, they made me re-fill in all my doctor's info. I'm concerned that they'll just call my doc, then hear that I'm past my expiration date.
Here it goes. Here's to hoping!