Many MDs will prescribe an antibiotic when there are flu symptoms to try and ward off secondary infections -- like bronchitis -- especially if the patient has a history of complications. I suspect that's the case, as most antibiotics go through they authorization without problems (because they're generic), and a 2-day antibiotic treatment is probably a pretty powerful dose.

As odd as it sounds, some plans have a different number for their plan members and a different number for the local pharmacies to call if the authorization isn't going through. If the Rx isn't authorizing, it's pretty hard for the pharmacy to find out what's going on and what alternatives there are. Usually that has to be worked out between the insurance carrier, the patient and the MD.

If this isn't your normal Walgreens who had your insurance card on file, they wouldn't have been able to know that there was an authorization problem until you gave them the card and they tried to run it electronically. If there are problems, that always causes pretty significant delays.

Sounds like the failure was in the pharmacy not being real communicative about what was going on and why. They definitely should have offered the out-of-pocket option when the authorization wasn't going through.

Hope you feel better. The flu stinks.