This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don’t know how many times I may have started a post with the words, “In this economy…” but here’s another fact that you may not be familiar with – just like bank “servicers,” pharmacies are held hostage often times with what can be called the “middleman” when it comes to your prescriptions and the availability of those prescriptions. Worst yet, the middleman approach dictates which pharmacy is part of your network, the costs and availability of certain prescriptions, and much more. Such is the case with Walgreens and Express Scripts.

The Impact on Customers

When the middleman is the sole party to set the rules, for example what does or does not “constitute a brand and generic drug” (which btw has a huge impact on your bank account), you know the world is going downhill. Such has been the case for a long time now, and most of us are unaware it’s happening.

In this particular instance, Tricare is one of Express Scripts “clients.” If you’re not familiar with Tricare, simply put it is the health and prescription programs for our U.S. military service people – men and women alike. Now I’m merely using this as an example, a major example, but a simple check of the back of your own pharmacy card should give you a clue as to who is handling your own prescription coverage (do check).

On a personal level, people just like you and me, generally find a pharmacy they are comfortable with, one that supports them, provides information when asked, and knows you inside and out (literally). Take that away, and the same person is forced to start all over again, perhaps paying higher prices or restricted on what is and what is not covered. They are forced by the middleman to choose another in-network program or suffer the consequences of coverage (or lack thereof).

What You Can Do

I know it’s difficult to say, “Speak up! Speak out!” It’s even more difficult for people to really focus on the fact that rights as we know them put us at the whim and mercy of corporations. Too often we feel, “Oh well what difference will my voice make…” This unfortunate attitude is so untrue. It is apathy that keeps us from making ourselves heard, nothing more.

However, you do have a voice, and here’s your opportunity to use it. Whether you frequent Walgreens or not, you can:

1. Contact your local media and express yourself (if only for the military and not yourself and your family)

2. Support Walgreens! Stay up to date on what’s happening – Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook

3. Talk with your friends, family, and co-workers so they are aware that once again lives are being disrupted (and btw, read this to get the full details I cannot possibly include in a single post – it’s not long, but it is “alarming”)

What Walgreens Is Doing

On a positive note, Walgreens does offer a very affordable Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. With two million members that’s huge leverage to help you save money. Their program is risk free, with the promise that “if you don’t save more than the cost of your membership” they will refund you the difference.

In the meantime, Walgreens continues its efforts to ensure their customers continue to receive the care and assistance they need. Just don’t be one of the many who once again say nothing. Use the links above, read about the issue (which has long arms and who knows, speculation, but what or who comes next??), and show support for a neighborhood business just trying to help people like us.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Once again “the powers that be” (whatever or whoever you choose to attribute life to) reign. I’ve been thinking about my mother quite often of late. If you remember, or if you’re a first time visitor, she was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigh’s Disease). Although giving it a valiant fight, there is no stopping this devastating horror. She’s “gone home” but remains a source of constant power for me, day in and day out.

And then, this morning, the world once again provided. One of the situations that was such a long-standing problem for us was keeping my mother mobile. I was thinking how hard this must be for so many. When I came across the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association in my wanderings, it was no surprise (I believe in the “ask and you will receive” theory).

NMEDA is a non-profit association that does not sell anything, but it is a valuable resource for educating caregivers and disabled individuals who need assistance.

Just as no one situation, or disease, strikes every person the same way, NMEDA’s web site takes that into account, and provides individualized information on a wide variety of subjects including safe driving. Disabled individuals need special equipment, and you need to know that there are particular standards developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration one needs to adhere to.

As a past caregiver (well current one, too, since taking care of one’s family is an ongoing process), I can state without hesitation that taking care of another person who needs assistance with everything, including transportation and devices to make that person’s life as comfortable as possible – as mobile as possible – is utterly exhausting. Of course you love your loved one, and want only the best for them. It is providing the resources and proper equipment, and making your job as a caregiver easier in the process, that makes all the difference (for both of you!).

As a caregiver, using improper or difficult to use equipment can be medically hazardous not only to the person you are assisting, but to yourself. Injuries to caregivers themselves are common. You put all your strength and heart and soul into not inflicting more discomfort on the disabled individual that often times the caregiver physically injures themselves. Trust me, I know.

NMEDA is a resource I wish I had found sooner, and their Dealers And Quality Assurance Program (QAP), too. QAP has the distinction of being the “only recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry”. In other words, it is a program caregivers and the disabled can put their faith and trust into to ensure consistency across the board. Each Dealer uses the same system, the same documented approach, to ensure you or a loved one receives nothing but quality.

For as long as was humanly possible, my mother maintained (insisted on!) her right to mobility. Something many of us no doubt take for granted. The headaches and heartaches we went through, and the sheer volume of WRONG equipment choices was draining. NMEDA would have been, and can be now for you, the shortcut to the proper mobility resources and equipment we struggled so hard to find.

It is extremely easy to find a Dealer near you. Just go to their Locate a Dealer web page, type in your zip code or choose your State and/or Province, and voila!

I just typed in my own zip code, and sure enough there are two very close locations. Had we only known… Help is just a web site click away.

I do have just one request please. If you would do me the courtesy of visiting the Dealer page, locating NMEDA Dealers near you, and letting me know your results via Commenting, I’d appreciate it.

By demonstrating how easy it is to get help, and bringing that information back here, you’re adding goodness into a world that really needs it.

This morning I received the following email – posted as I received it – from my father (remember the was-Republican, ain’t one now guy after 60+ years?). That statement isn’t to get your goat, but to show you that he’s on the mailing list to receive information directly from White House sources – not the rhetoric your “should be, but isn’t news channels” disseminate.

Anyway, as you can tell I’m a bit testy today… However, I urge you to take advantage of this information. We’ve already done our taxes (using TurboTax online which ensured we received all the advantages we could for filing 2009 taxes).

With a husband unemployed since last August 2009, and a family of four (plus two cats) to take care of – well let’s just say if this story sounds familiar to you, then you’ll want to use this tax saving’s tool referenced below: (more…)

Strategies for success come in all shapes and sizes. While the post before talks about your responsibilities for your own health (in most cases), I’d also like to take the opportunity to point out that adding, losing, adding, losing… well you get the cycle… often causes varicose veins.

Pregnancy also has a way of making those not-so-lovely stretch marks, and with increased pressure the onset of varicose veins. Sometimes, it even “travels” in families.

The good news is finding a good vein doctor is no longer a chore. Nor is the procedure to eliminate them. I won’t get into the gory details of yesteryear’s way of dealing with this issue. Suffice to say that endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) works amazingly well, and even ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (for spider veins).

Hmmm… Surgery or ultrasound/lasers, there’s no hesitation on which to choose is there?!

Do look for the very best vein clinics with the best reputations. And if you use the link above, you’ll easily be able to find such a clinic near you just by entering your zip code!