Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Walgreens Take Care Clinic

I can't think of a better way to build customer loyalty:

Walgreens will offer free Take Care Clinic visits to families who lose employment and insurance after March 31st.

Thanks to Thrifty Third Ave Gal for spotlighting a corporation that cares!

22 comments:

ancient one said...

We have good people in the USA, don't we?

Anonymous said...

free health care is a huge red flag--there is always a catch somewhere..

Megan said...

Wow, that's great. Just be prepared to get sick about five days in advance. Those lines are going to be looooooooooong!!

Leila said...

I hope that this is for real.

Isn't there another store that gives antibiotics for free?

Love your dishes :)

Meredith said...

It's for real--the link is to the Walgreen's corporate site.

Take Care Clinics charge $59 a person for basic walk-in visits with a nurse practitioner.

The "catch" in this case is that Walgreens will get a huge amount of free publicity and goodwill, even from blogs like this one.

I know a few people reading this will benefit, and I'm happy to give a little free PR to companies whose marketing strategies arecompassionate and practical, even to the most cynical among us.

Sure beats a rebate program, in my eyes!

Rebecca said...

I saw a commercial for this just yesterday! I think it's wonderful.

I want to say that I heard Meijer gives free prescriptions?

Roxie700 said...

You know, I checked your blog early this morning and saw the note from 'anonymous' and I wondered if others felt like I do. I do not agree with ANONYMOUS. I think there is a reason they want to remain anonymous.

If a few more companies did things like this maybe; just maybe it would help get the economy rolling again. Sure Walgreens is going to get some good PR out of this. They should. They are doing something to help. I say 'good for them' and it makes me want to give them my business. I get 3 prescriptions and my husband gets 6 perscriptions every month. I do not do business with Walgreens at this time, but I think that will change. The company I do business with now has odd hours and closes very early. I recently needed a medication after 8:00PM on a week night and I was 'out of luck' with my company. So I have been thinking of taking my business else where, and this kind of pushes me over the edge.

Anonymous said...

I believe it is Publix

Anonymous said...

or Roxie......people don't want to take the time to sign up for google to post a comment. It doesn't all have to be a conspiracy you know.

Anonymous said...

Here's the link to Publix program
http://www.publix.com/about/newsroom/NewsReleaseItem.do?newsReleaseItemPK=2636

Anonymous said...

Meijers appears to offer it as well as someone mentioned upthread.

http://www.meijer.com/content/content_leftnav_manual.jsp?pageName=free_antibiotics

I'm sure that they are hoping if people use the free clinic though that they have potential shot at their prescription. I had read they are revamping how they fill refills so the pharmacists can focus on new patients and more on patient education. I wouldn't bew surprised if goodwill figures into the equation on building a loyal customer base and I have absolutely no problem with that.

;)

Shelley said...

Thanks for the link to my blog, Meredith! I'm glad we can help 'get the word out' (and, no, I'm not being compensated by Walgreens...) :)

Anonymous said...

Overall it appears to be a great idea. Canada's health care system works similar to this. You may get your initial visit free/cheap, but there are LONG lines and you just pray you don't need a specialist. Not sure where the $59 per visit charge comes from, that isn't free to me. Although seems like a good value if you were formerly paying a $30 co-pay and can't afford Cobra or self insurance.

However, for those of us who've lost our job/insurance prior to the March 31date, we appear to be out of luck.

Vintagesquirrel said...

This is really admirable of Walgreen's. It appears that several supermarkets are offering free antibiotics. I know that Stop & Shop does. Here is the link fo more info: http://www.stopandshop.com/antibiotics

I agree that we all should try to share this information, so that those who really need it will be in the know.
-Michelle

Meredith said...

What I mean is that the typical $59 per visit fee is waived for those who have lost job/insurance after March 31st.

Roxie700 said...

Dear Anonymous 9:51. I know that not everything is a conspiracy. I was only saying that when a negative commet is made, it is almost always made by Anonymous. As in "free health care is a huge red flag--there is always a catch somewhere"

I myself used to post as 'anonymous' on this blog. Then I took the time to sign my real name. I did not leave it off a post.

This is a friendly blog, of fun and helpful ideas of life in a normal thrifty family. I enjoy reading here very much.

I was just trying to make a point that if more companies did this kind of thing right now a whole lot of people could be helped through a very difficult time. I see nothing wrong with Walgreens getting a lot of good PR for this. It is worth a lot of 'good press' to a lot of people. The company I use now to get my prescriptions filled (HEB, a local grocery store) does not offer late evening hours. I have had need of a prescription after 8:00pm before and had to do without because they were not open. So I am going to move my business to Walgreens because I admire what they are doing.

Anonymous said...

I, too, am glad to see that you can post a reply anonymously. I do not have a blog, and registering and remembering another password, etc., is a hassle. However, that being said, I would post what I was truly thinking whether I posted as anonymous or not.

I think it is a really good thing that Walgreen is doing. They will receiver a lot of good PR for doing it, but what's wrong with that? Most states have some type of insurance for uninsured children, as does the federal government, but adults usually just fall between the cracks. That happened to me once before. I think they are the ones who will really benefit from this program.

Marsha said...

My family has discovered the joy of the CVS-branded retail healthcare clinic, called Minute Clinic. In the past eight weeks my house has seen a couple rounds of strep throat, an ear infection and one really icky cough. For each case, the hassle involved in dealing with my doc's office staff, schlepping to the office, making a second schlep somewhere to get meds (if necessary)...well, it added insult to injury. There are three CVS stores within a few miles of me, though. For each visit our wait was less than 10 minutes, the examinations thorough (performed by an NP or PA) and the meds available at the back of the store (or any other outlet I desired). The attendant also forwards the visit documentation to the "regular" doc for inclusion in our records.

My family has (knock wood) excellent health insurance and I am SOLD on this model of care delivery. The list of services provided isn't exhaustive but covers about 90% of what I've seen physicians for in the last several years. As a mom, I find Minute Clinic to be a valuable tool in my mothering toolbox.

Nicola said...

this is both so very wonderful and such a frightening sign of the times. thank you for the link!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com

Nicole said...

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Anonymous said...

This certainly meets a need for health care that this country is desperate for. The downside to this program though is free antibiotics. We are already facing a huge problem caused by overuse of antibiotics. Many strains of bacteria are now resistant to antibiotics as a consequence. As my own doctor pointed out, this program will encourage even more overuse of antibiotics.

Nancy

MommyLydia said...

Given the problems Walgreens has had recently with overcharging, I must say I am skeptical as well.

http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=29889959

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/09/29/daily16.html?ana=from_rss