I've been a navy spouse for eight years now, and was a navy brat for more than, well, I won't tell my age.  I like to think I am a pretty well-informed military spouse, but I had no idea how easy it was to get over-the-counter meds free from the Bremerton Naval Hospital until recently!

I had heard that you could get certain meds free, but I always assumed that it would be a huge pain in the rear to do so, like so many "benefits" of the military are.  But my good friend, Barbara A., told me to go check out the drive-through refill pharmacy at Jackson Park, near the Bremerton Naval Hospital.

Sure enough!  It only took ten minutes, and I didn't even have to get out of my car.  A really cool thing, especially since I am on crutches right now and had my three year old son in the car.

Take the second right turn of of Austin Drive into the Jackson Park navy housing complex, and the refill pharmacy is immediately on your right.  As you pull in to the drive-through window, you will see a box of forms on the driver's side.  Grab a form for each of your family members, and fill it out as you wait in line or pull back into a parking spot to fill it out if the line os short.

Military is allowed 3 unique products per family member in any 30 day period.  I got adult acetamenaphine, children's liquid acetamenophine, cough suppresant, antacid, and a cream for hubby's athletes foot (welcome to hot days on deployment in the gulf in bad shoes and socks!).  Free!

Do understand that these are not name-brand products, but they have the same ingredients and work just as well.  When you realize how much it would have cost me to buy these items in a drug store, it was definitely worth the drive and a few minutes of my time.  And, they are open on Saturdays!

PS  I thought I was the only navy spouse who didn't know about this, but then I ran into my friends and past clients Chris and Tammy K. at Wal-mart, and they were surprised that it was so easy too!