Prescription Issue

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The Free Market strikes again and fucks the people.  There is no valid reason for medicine costs to be that high.

Boru

My wife needs an injection every three months for an autoimmune illness - each injection is almost $25,000 - and because of it's non-formulary status it's covered under co-insurance up to our maximum out of pocket rather than a copay.  There are no effective less expensive alternatives.

This year, because we were forced to change insurance mid-year, we get to pay that huge out of pocket expense twice.  We already met it once, we'll meet it again.  Our out of pocket expenses this year are easily going to to 15K not even accounting for premiums.

Here, virtually all prescriptions are a $5 fill (a little over $3US, I think).  Once you pay for 20 prescriptions in a year, you don't pay again until 1 February of the following year (meds for kids aren't subject to the $5, but don't count toward the 20/year). The very few meds not covered under this scheme are heavily subsidized, generally to about 99% of the market price.

So, your  $15 000 out of pocket for the year would be either $20 (four injections at $5 each) or $1000 (four co-pays of $250 each).

Boru

[Gwaithmir]

The Free Market strikes again and fucks the people.  There is no valid reason for medicine costs to be that high.

Boru

I can afford it, even at that price, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay it if I don't have to. I'm presently looking into buying this drug from a reliable pharmaceutical company in Canada.

[Jackalope]

Sounds like Acthar.

Stelara. Fucking biologics are -insanely- expensive, but Methotrexate and the others they tried before that were ineffective. Some of those were insane expensive as well. It took years to even get to where it's "controlled", and cost damn well was a factor in that. Meanwhile, her immune system was destroying her joints. That's for-profit medicine for you.

[vulcanlogician]

I can afford it, even at that price, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay it if I don't have to. I'm presently looking into buying this drug from a reliable pharmaceutical company in Canada.

My mother takes the exact same drug. I also know that there's no way she could afford to pay even half of the price you are being charged. Next time I see her, I'll ask how she gets it so cheap.

[Abaddon_ire]

Some years ago, I had DVT. I was put on a thinner called Pradaxa. Out of curiousity I looked it up. It costs 10 times as much in the US as I paid for it. WTF???

[Macoleco]

It is crazy how some people abuse the pain of others to make money. Hard to believe we live in such a word. And even more the fact that we, the people, allow it.

Here in my country we have social healthcare, but it is crumbling. Corruption on the highest stratums, and most doctors treat you like they are making you a favor.

Sad world we live in. Hopefully when we have android bodies engineers will be less dicks lol

[zebo-the-fat]

The NHS in the UK is far from perfect, but we never need to think about the cost of medication. There is i fixed charge for each item no matter the true cost of the drug (free if you are aged 60 or over) about 15 years ago I was on holiday in the USA and my son had a minor injury, a 10 minute consultation with a doctor and a small tube of cream cost about $500, the doctor was confused when I asked why it was so expensive and was it supplied in a gold plated box!

[Gwaithmir]

I can afford it, even at that price, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay it if I don't have to. I'm presently looking into buying this drug from a reliable pharmaceutical company in Canada.

My mother takes the exact same drug. I also know that there's no way she could afford to pay even half of the price you are being charged. Next time I see her, I'll ask how she gets it so cheap.

Thank you. That would be most helpful. 

[vulcanlogician]

My mother takes the exact same drug. I also know that there's no way she could afford to pay even half of the price you are being charged. Next time I see her, I'll ask how she gets it so cheap.

Thank you. That would be most helpful. 

According to mom, who can be confused about such things on occasion (so please do your own research), it's medicare. 

But it's not just plain ol' medicare. She met with a social worker who was able to optimize her benefits and significantly reduce her medical costs (including prescription meds). According to her (again, she gets confused about these things from time to time) this is a federal benefit. So it shouldn't matter which state you live in.

[Cod]

Because the patent doesn't expire until 2023! 

I read that as the patient doesn't expire until 2023, thought you were giving him less than 4 years.