As people stock up on hurricane supplies, they are finding it may cost more money than they budgeted for.

That's because when it comes to one necessity – medications -- health insurance companies haven't built in a plan for hurricanes.

In Metairie, people crowded a local drug store getting prepared for Gustav.

"People coming in like crazy buying water. We sold 4 pallets of water yesterday and I thought it was going to slow up, but it's moving out as much as we can and batteries," says Greg Ciolino, C's Store Manager

 And along with water and batteries, there is another necessity they are hurrying to buy.

"We're here for our medicine and it is the first thing we thought about when the storm was coming," says shopper Paul Clement, Sr. 

"I came here to get my blood pressure medicine to keep my blood pressure down throughout all of this mess," says Rosemary Donnelly, a registered nurse who is getting her medication refill sooner than she normally would. 

But that is where the problem is starting for some people. The pharmacist is allowed by its regulating board to dispense some medications early, before the previous bottle is empty. But insurance companies might not pay its share of the costs.

One prescription insurance company says that for it to approve and pay for early refills, every individual employer was going to have to call and give a release for all of its employees.

"Most insurance companies will allow you maybe one vacation override per year so if you've already used that before hurricane season, we can't override so again be prepared to pay full cost of your medication," says registered pharmacist Jane Ciolino of C's in Metairie.

The problem is some people can't afford to do that, and if you pay full cost and then file with your insurance company later to get reimbursed, you may be in for debate that you might not win.

So pharmacists say if you have a couple of weeks worth of medication, take that with you and get your refill later out-of-town.

"We can not possibly fill a two-month supply on medication. No pharmacy in America is going to have stock to give you a two-month supply before you leave town. Please be reasonable on this," adds Jane Ciolino.

And she says getting a two-month supply would keep other people from getting their medications.

National chain pharmacies will have your prescription on file and if you shop at a local pharmacy they can transfer your refill records to another pharmacy out-of-town.

Some pharmacists say the problem could be solved if insurance companies would just issue a refill override for South Louisiana since the Governor has declared a state of emergency.