MI-SERA

Chair Talk

March 2019

By Bob Kopasz

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the SERA members and friends for all the get well wishes that were sent to my wife Peggy. Your cards and e-mails did raise Peggy’s spirits when she was in the hospital and at home recovering. She is feeling better every day. Thank you again.

Mary Pollock sent me the following e-mail earlier this month:

Check out goodrx.com

This Web site is a good way for people to check to see where they can purchase their drugs for reduced price, sometimes cheaper than using Optum and its co-pay requirements. My primary care physician’s office pre-authorization nurse put me on to this when I got caught up in a pre-authorization maze for a muscle relaxant. Muscle relaxants are a class of drug that requires pre-authorization for those over 65 apparently. It can make you sleepy and affect balance. The price of the drug I was seeking is $33.13 at Walgreen without applying the co-pay of $20. The goodrx coupon that I can use at Walgreen has a discounted price of $8.63. It’s even cheaper at Meijer, but it is worth it to me to have all my Rx from one pharmacy. So not using Optum insurance makes this cheaper for me. Check out your own or common drugs to test it for yourself. I found the Optum co-pays to be cheaper in some cases, especially for name-brand drugs with no generic alternative. But on the Web site it advised there was a similar drug that could substitute for the name-brand one that is way-way cheaper. I noticed that if you joined the Kroger Rx Club, they offer some $3 prices for common drugs.
www.goodrx.com

We always tell people to shop around, but this would make it easy to do that. You might want to put this in your column if you find it worthy. Maybe there are other similar Web sites?

I have been contacted to promote a social gathering for all SERA members. The Jackson Chapter has reserved 50 dinner show tickets for their members to attend Turkeyville on Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019 lunch and matinee. They are inviting members from other Chapters to attend also, the theater has a capacity to hold 100. The event will include a dinner and the show: “Santa Gets A Pink Slip”. The tickets for the dinner/show are $38. If you think anyone in your Chapter would be interested let me know soon so we can reserve seats.

Turkeyville
18935 15 1/2 Mile Road
Marshall, MI 49068

Please let me know if you are interested.

Bob

Editor’s note: Bob Kopasz is Chair of the Michigan SERA Council. He may be reached at P.O. Box 692, Mt. Morris, MI 48458; phone 810/240-8380.


Chair Talk	Home About SERA Join SERA Now SERA Plus Benefits Meeting Dates Chair Talk Capitol News Retirement Matters Insurance Information SERA Council Directories Michigan Government Links Testimony Letters and Press Releases Resources Links
March 2019 By Bob Kopasz I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the SERA members and friends for all the get well wishes that were sent to my wife Peggy. Your cards and e-mails did raise Peggy’s spirits when she was in the hospital and at home recovering. She is feeling better every day. Thank you again. Mary Pollock sent me the following e-mail earlier this month: Check out goodrx.com This Web site is a good way for people to check to see where they can purchase their drugs for reduced price, sometimes cheaper than using Optum and its co-pay requirements. My primary care physician’s office pre-authorization nurse put me on to this when I got caught up in a pre-authorization maze for a muscle relaxant. Muscle relaxants are a class of drug that requires pre-authorization for those over 65 apparently. It can make you sleepy and affect balance. The price of the drug I was seeking is $33.13 at Walgreen without applying the co-pay of $20. The goodrx coupon that I can use at Walgreen has a discounted price of $8.63. It’s even cheaper at Meijer, but it is worth it to me to have all my Rx from one pharmacy. So not using Optum insurance makes this cheaper for me. Check out your own or common drugs to test it for yourself. I found the Optum co-pays to be cheaper in some cases, especially for name-brand drugs with no generic alternative. But on the Web site it advised there was a similar drug that could substitute for the name-brand one that is way-way cheaper. I noticed that if you joined the Kroger Rx Club, they offer some $3 prices for common drugs. www.goodrx.com We always tell people to shop around, but this would make it easy to do that. You might want to put this in your column if you find it worthy. Maybe there are other similar Web sites? I have been contacted to promote a social gathering for all SERA members. The Jackson Chapter has reserved 50 dinner show tickets for their members to attend Turkeyville on Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019 lunch and matinee. They are inviting members from other Chapters to attend also, the theater has a capacity to hold 100. The event will include a dinner and the show: “Santa Gets A Pink Slip”. The tickets for the dinner/show are $38. If you think anyone in your Chapter would be interested let me know soon so we can reserve seats. Turkeyville 18935 15 1/2 Mile Road Marshall, MI 49068 Please let me know if you are interested. Bob Editor’s note: Bob Kopasz is Chair of the Michigan SERA Council. He may be reached at P.O. Box 692, Mt. Morris, MI 48458; phone 810/240-8380.
©2021 Michigan State Employee Retirees Association Council (MI-SERA) Contact SERA Webmaster