I walked into a CVS on Market Street in Philadelphia to get a flu shot Friday afternoon. I had no idea that I would learn a life lesson that day. A conversation between a pharmacist and a woman saddened me, especially since I'm a pre-med student.

I want to be a doctor, but I hate thinking about the financial side of healthcare. Insurance is confusing, and not everyone can afford it. Additionally, there are so many frustrating requirements and policies with every insurance plan.

Sure, healthcare is expensive, but why is it more of a privilege than a necessary service?

Here's what happened in that CVS. A woman was trying to refill her prescription, but the pharmacist told her that her insurance wouldn't cover a refill until the next week. She was confused and said that she refilled it before and had no problems. She took her pills as directed, exactly like her doctor told her to.

The pharmacist kept explaining to her that her doctor was probably unaware of her insurance company's policy, but the woman was not calming down. She looked at her friend and asked, "Why didn't my doctor tell me about this?" The pharmacist kept repeating that the woman would have to call her insurance company to figure everything out.

Exasperated, the woman said, "Next time I want to speak to a nurse, not a doctor."

Those words struck me hard. She was basically saying that her doctor didn't care enough to work with her insurance. The nurse would explain things to her better.

I took a step back and considered what a pre-med student like me could learn from that statement.

I don't blame doctors for things like this. Doctors see so many patients a day. They're expected to do so much. The personal side of medicine is slowly fading away, especially with the aging population.

Doctors tend to dislike insurance because it takes away from patient interaction. They know enough about it to manage appointment costs and select the best medications, but the finer details like prescription refill times are usually unclear.

Although working with insurance is probably the worst part of being a medical professional, doctors have a responsibility to fully learn about insurance.

Yes, secretaries and assistants can help, but doctors have to understand the financial consequences of what they are prescribing their patients. Can the patient refill the prescription as much as needed? Will their insurance cover it? These are questions that should always be considered, and patients should always be aware of possible alternatives if they cannot pay.

As a future doctor (hopefully), I wish I could have helped that woman. I fear for the day I have to work with insurance. I fear for the day I'm faced with the dilemma to treat people who are unable to pay. The cost of medicine is terrifying and ridiculous.

Pre-med students have to understand that although they'll be saving lives, they'll also deal with crying patients who don't understand why they can't refill their medications. Insurance is a daunting topic that no one really wants to talk about, yet it is probably more important than ever for future doctors to learn now.