I'll Tell You Why We're So Stressed - TECHNOLOGY!

I had to deal with two major issues last week, with CVS and my health insurance. You can't help but consider these issues are designed to discourage as much interaction as possible. The cartoon says it all.

Let's start with insurance, always a hot topic in America  On July 26, 2024 I called my provider for the reimbursement form for an oxygen concentrator my pulmonologist wrote a prescription for. After the usual queries from deaf and dumb robots, key pad punching  and about 20 minutes later I got a human. After explaining what I needed (I don't think she understood the word reimbursement) I was told the form had to be mailed.

This cartoon IS funny until it isn't

Startled I reminded her this was the 21st Century and why not just email me a PDF for me to print,  gather the necessary documents and mail back. Better yet, scan them and send her a PDF of all nessesary documents.  She assured me, was adamant, this wasn't secure enough. The form HAD to be mailed. While I didn't say it, I wasn't sold on the security of the USPS these days either. No amount of pleading could convince her so I waited for a long delivery time.

This last Thursday, August 29, 2024, I again called my health insurance and again after 20 minutes of diddling around got another person. I explained my problem, she looked up my reference number and after a pause asked me to turn to my computer. (I was already on the web site) and I told her so. She had me go to several screens and before I knew it there was the reimbursement form. I asked her to wait to make sure it downloaded, and she did. I thanked her, hung up, printed the form, made copies of the documents and got them ready to mail. Thank you Paulette! All done in under 30 minutes.

She guided me for 5 minutes, the copies took another 25. So I waited 34 days for nothing! What a difference a call can make. 

CVS takes frustration to a whole new level.

Last Friday I go to pick up my medicine and the clerk asks for my CVS app. I looked at her blank faced. She then asks, "Do you have one?" I replied I did but never and couldn't use it. This after two years battling their tech department to find out why it wouldn't work. I opened it and of course, yet again my password was wrong. She finally gave me my medicine and I came home to try again. I was warned to use it next time as I left.

Even my iMac couldn't give them the correct password so I clicked FORGOT PASSWORD and tried to start again. So between my phone and computer I finally got in and all appeared well. Until my birthday. It was set at August 06, 2006. That was not my birthdate but no matter how I tried to change it, it would not read what I put in the keypad.

It finally dawned on me I had to hit the arrow keys atop a monthly calendar. It tool 728 taps on that calendar to get to 1945 and my birth month. When I selected my birthday, the one I've had 78 years, it said that's not the birthday they had for me! You can just about imagine my reaction! This BS had been going on nearly an hour. I called the number on the screen.

When I finally got a human I was told to call yet another number and for once it was a short wait. So, together the tech and I spent another half hour trying to solve this issue. #%@*%!

When I finally got in I was surprised about how much information they had on me. But it's the process that frustrates at every turn. I'm sure every 15 year-old navigates this stuff on a daily basis. At my age I don't. However, in both cases and several others, it's taken a phone call to make something work. As the song says, "It's Not Unusual!"

iOS 18 for my iPhone comes out soon and I'm terrified of all the changes that will bring. It took several trips to the Apple store to solve my iPhone 15's issues.

Technology isn't made for us seniors anymore I guess. We are dinosaurs from the past!

Thank you for reading my blog. I invite you to take the time to read earlier blogs where my emphasis is to explore the ways art and design affects our daily lives ... and always has. I share with you what inspires me with the hope that it will inspire you as well. Comments are always welcomed! 

Be sure to check my ETSY store ... KrugsStudio.etsy.com. I am adding many new and exciting, collectible birdhouses and craft items. Many of the items talked about here will be for sale there!