I get that pharmaceutical companies have to recover the R&D expenses and that a big part of the bill goes to insurance in sue-happy America, but when they take advantage of the monopoly (sometimes with government collusion – Medicare will cover this but not cover that), it is irritating.
Insurance companies tell doctors how to practice medicine. I had a knee issue and cortisone didn’t work (I actually have a slightly negative reaction to it) – but cortisone is the cheaper drug. So I had to take the cortisone and suffer for a month and then the insurance company would pay for the shot that did work.
It worked so well that I did not need another shot for a couple of years. By then my “time” had expired. Since I did not get another shot within the same year, the insurance company would not pay unless I first tried the cortisone again.
I leaned my lesson. I put it on my calendar to get a shot every year whether I needed it or not.
The strange thing is that we complain about the policies made by our lawmakers, but continue to vote for the candidates that were hand-picked by the corporations through contributions to our two opposing political parties system. We’ve become a democratic republic in name only as our “representatives” represent big pharma, MIC, big telecom, etc instead of “we the people”
“Everyone knows that Americans pay high prices for drugs. But there is more to this story. The taxpayer not only shells out at the pharmacy but often plays a critical role in funding these drugs in the first place. In other words, the public pays twice.”
The insurance companies rate the drugs at levels. And the drug companies set the prices of the drugs. Not on how well they work but on what they can get for it. If they have an exclusive patent for that drug they can charge the ceiling. If they don’t have a patent they can make generic products and still charge whatever they want. Insurance companies can make a patient go through levels to reach the most effective drugs for their condition. Sometimes those levels are so ineffective it’s laughable, the insurance companies can make you stay at a level that is totally ineffective but because it’s the cheapest that’s where they make you stay. If it’s a pain medication, the cheapest level is an opioid. The insurance companies will pay for opioids rather than pay for a more expensive non-addictive pain relief. So who’s to blame for America’s opioid addiction..??
DanFlak over 6 years ago
I get that pharmaceutical companies have to recover the R&D expenses and that a big part of the bill goes to insurance in sue-happy America, but when they take advantage of the monopoly (sometimes with government collusion – Medicare will cover this but not cover that), it is irritating.
DanFlak over 6 years ago
Insurance companies tell doctors how to practice medicine. I had a knee issue and cortisone didn’t work (I actually have a slightly negative reaction to it) – but cortisone is the cheaper drug. So I had to take the cortisone and suffer for a month and then the insurance company would pay for the shot that did work.
It worked so well that I did not need another shot for a couple of years. By then my “time” had expired. Since I did not get another shot within the same year, the insurance company would not pay unless I first tried the cortisone again.
I leaned my lesson. I put it on my calendar to get a shot every year whether I needed it or not.
superposition over 6 years ago
The strange thing is that we complain about the policies made by our lawmakers, but continue to vote for the candidates that were hand-picked by the corporations through contributions to our two opposing political parties system. We’ve become a democratic republic in name only as our “representatives” represent big pharma, MIC, big telecom, etc instead of “we the people”
Zen-of-Zinfandel over 6 years ago
If you buy in bulk do you get a valium discount?
Radish the wordsmith over 6 years ago
Thanks to W and the Republicans who said the pill makers could charge whatever they want.
Silly Season over 6 years ago
“Everyone knows that Americans pay high prices for drugs. But there is more to this story. The taxpayer not only shells out at the pharmacy but often plays a critical role in funding these drugs in the first place. In other words, the public pays twice.”
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-1027-mazzucato-big-pharma-prices-20151027-story.html
Thomas Thieme over 6 years ago
And Americans let themselves get charged that much. Their congressmen, the liberal warriors included, take bribes to keep prices high.
Sadandconfused9 over 6 years ago
The insurance companies rate the drugs at levels. And the drug companies set the prices of the drugs. Not on how well they work but on what they can get for it. If they have an exclusive patent for that drug they can charge the ceiling. If they don’t have a patent they can make generic products and still charge whatever they want. Insurance companies can make a patient go through levels to reach the most effective drugs for their condition. Sometimes those levels are so ineffective it’s laughable, the insurance companies can make you stay at a level that is totally ineffective but because it’s the cheapest that’s where they make you stay. If it’s a pain medication, the cheapest level is an opioid. The insurance companies will pay for opioids rather than pay for a more expensive non-addictive pain relief. So who’s to blame for America’s opioid addiction..??
squiggle9 over 6 years ago
is Viagra for women THAT expensive ?
Mr. Blawt over 6 years ago
If only there was a legislative body in Washington that was interested in making our healthcare better and cheaper. Oh well, maybe next time!
DanFlak over 6 years ago
The Republican Health Care system: Don’t get sick.
DanFlak over 6 years ago
She’s down on her knees. Is the National Anthem playing?