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Originally Posted by emsgranny
This is one area that needs more regulation!! There should be a cap on markup. I know I have great insurance my copay for my injections is 35.00 (they dont make generic) They always list the cost which is right at 3600. of course the insurance company is then billed for the difference of my copay and cost. And we wonder why our insurance rates keep going up !!!
Dont even get me started on the Medicare prescription plan - I qualify for it but choose to buy my own insurance. How do they expect anyone to afford drugs they desperately need. All I can say is the legislatures probably have not run into this or have a family member with a chronic illness. Of course their insurance is the best to be had and at the cheapest rate!!! Thanks Hiliary :lol: Thank God we can afford to pay. At least for now. |
Originally Posted by LindaJR
My thing is that Obama's insurance bill should have been approached on fixing the insurance companies. They are what is wrong with the whole helath care problem, but I do not want nation health insurance I just want regulations put on insurance companies and medical manufactureres of meds and other health care products.
However, what is good for health insurers doesn't solve the biggest problems with health care in the USA - cost and access. Maybe if our darned politicians (ALL of them, not just Dems and not just GOP) would get off their idiotic soap boxes and actually do their jobs - REPRESENT CITIZENS, NOT BIG BUSINESS - we'd have gotten a real health reform law. And now I will step off my soap box. |
I decided if it isn't generic, I won't take it. Besides, I am soooooo tired of every time you turn around another dr. gives you something else to take. I used to take so many that I felt horrible all the time. So one at a time, I stopped taking them. I take only what I think I need, and I feel sooooooooooooo much better. My dad died at age 76, and the family is so sure he was just over medicated on everything. And why in the world would we want to pay for the non-generic if generic is available. It sure doesn't make sense to me. So I'm glad you told them "Hell No!"
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts
While we're talking about health insurance companies and drugs, let's also talk about SSDI and Medicare. You can disenroll from both Social Seucirty disability income or insurance, SSDI, and Medicare Part B if you don't like the price of Part b and you have a JOB that pays enough in wages but you're stuck having Medicare Part a for another 98 months past termination of Part B. DH's health insurance says that for me to have his insurance, I have to have both A & B, just can't have Part A which is all I have now. DH's insurance company calls me "a non-insurable entity" - gotta love that label!!! Have spent the last 6 months fighting this. Went to SSA yesterday to talk to real people & the 2nd lady told me I was stuck in the disability system at Social Security. I can either pay for Part B for the rest of my life and get DH's insurance coverage, I can wait until Part a expires in Aug 2016 and then get his health insurance coverage or I can die at which time I assume both expire since I am also expired. I am so stinkin' mad it ain't funny and have decided that I'll wait until Aug 2016 to get health insurance. What a ridiculous situation and the idiots at SSA don't have a clue and talk to me like I'm an imbecilic idiot. Am going to see a supervisor on Monday with DH - we hope he can understand the situation. I am a disabled vet so have some healthcare coverage through the VA. Sorry for the long post and venting about the system but it is very frustrating and on-going.
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and I bet they wondered"why doesn't she want it". Are they all nuts?
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Originally Posted by BellaBoo
The US drug companies research all the meds. No laws to research meds in most countries. Canada and Mexico do not research medicines. No research no high cost to pass on. They use US research info. If US didn't require drug testing our prices would be super low and we would all be going to many more funerals.
USA is viewed as a cash cow by pharmaceutical companies. They milk us for every cent they can. If they can sell a drugs for big $$$ in the USA, then they can afford to sell the same drugs for much less in other countries. Essentially, US citizens are paying for the drugs these companies sell for a lot less all over the world. And if we can't afford the drugs - oh, well. We get to be sick and die. On top of that, we pay for the FDA to approve the drugs via taxes, why should we also pay for the rest of the world to get the advantage of the testing we paid for? |
Please Please all here that are healthy and not on any long term meds, do everything for your health. Eat right, get exercise, lose the excess weight, get regular check ups and don't forget dental problems. Dental problems may not cause pain but can destroy your immune system. Make sure your kids know what the right health choices are even though they may not always choose the healthy ones all the time. Any money spent to prevent health problems is money saved.
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My meds that have to come from the mail order place that my insurance designates all have been made in India--go figure!
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Originally Posted by patski
and I bet they wondered"why doesn't she want it". Are they all nuts?
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Wow, experienced similar last week when the cobra payment was posted late, normal copay $40, w/o $249.00, nope I'll wait and the pharmacy can re-run the fill order. I am grateful I can pay the cobra but so looking forward to my new employers insurance to kick in on May 1! I really feel for those that don't have that option, ouch!
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Am I happy I don't have to take any meds. I do use an inhaler for a touch of asthma, but it's not too pricey.
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I am a pharm tech at a local pharmacy and I hear horror stories like this all the time. Mail order is probably cheaper but when there is a problem, the poor patient has to scramble to get their meds.
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Don't have insurance, generic drugs never work for me. Maybe because I have Lupus. Holding my breath until I turn 65 for medicare. You are right to say, guard your health while you can, not sure what quality of health care will be available in the future
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Originally Posted by ptquilts
drugs are so expensive here BECAUSE they are so cheap every where else. The poor drug companies have to make their profits somewhere.
Call or write your representatives and tell them you are tired of big drug companies writing policy in this country. We could be just like Canada and have cheaper drug prices but the reps won't vote it in because they are getting BIG campaign contributions from the drug companies. So they do what is best for the drug companies instead of what is best for their constituents. |
Originally Posted by emerald46
We had friends' parents several years ago who went to Mexico like 4 times a year to buy drugs for themselves and friends. Same containers, same everything, could not bleieve how much money they saved. Drug companies are making a fortune on anyone with chronic problems needing drugs or supplies.
Say a pharmaceutical company makes and sells a drug overseas and has been doing so for 10-15 years. Before they can sell it in the US the FDA requires that it go through all the testing all over again - as if it were a brand new drug. Not kidding folks.....that's just one piece of the fractured picture. :thumbdown: |
This is why we have a benefit scheme here that keeps a lot of drugs affordable to the average person, and the multinational companies keep trying to erode it.
They would not be able to sell it if nobody could afford to pay for it. |
Hey, at $3,178.06, tell them to send a 6 month supply. ARE THEY INSANE?
I spent $217.00 for 6 Rx's this month. 117.00, 80.00 ,5.00 each for 4 rx's/ I have $300.00/month disposalable income for drugs and food. My encocronologist gave me synthroid, which is about $30. |
Originally Posted by dpparris
Thinking I may lose my mind today..oops to late its already gone!
Mail order drug company calls Monday and tell me that the name brand is NOT avalible, but they can send generic, I tell them we get generic all the time. then they call on Thursday to say one med is not available in generic until the 30th (have enough until next tu...esday) but, they can send name brand. Generic is $25.00 for 3 month supply, name brand is $3,178.06 for 3 month supply, do you want us to send it? Not NO but, Hell NO. Have to call the Doctor and get them to phone it in to the drug store to get generic. |
Boy I'm glad I have medical insurance, those prices are out rages, for generic $3.00 and name brand is $15.00, if they do the same thing give me generic....
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Hell NO is right!!! Glad this was while Dr.'s office was open and could call in script!
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yeah, my potassium, generic, was $15.00 a bottle dec 31,2010. jan 3, 2011 was $65.00 for the same bottle!!! I have to take 120 tablets per month if I want to continue to live.
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Drug companies are in business to make money, not to cure anyone of anything. Think about it: there is lots of money in treatment, but if you are cured, you'd spend your money on other things like food, shelter, and maybe a vacation instead of drugs. There is no incentive to create a cure, but lots of $$$ incentive to 'treat' illnesses.
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Originally Posted by k9dancer
Drug companies are in business to make money, not to cure anyone of anything. Think about it: there is lots of money in treatment, but if you are cured, you'd spend your money on other things like food, shelter, and maybe a vacation instead of drugs. There is no incentive to create a cure, but lots of $$$ incentive to 'treat' illnesses.
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts
While we're talking about health insurance companies and drugs, let's also talk about SSDI and Medicare. You can disenroll from both Social Seucirty disability income or insurance, SSDI, and Medicare Part B if you don't like the price of Part b and you have a JOB that pays enough in wages but you're stuck having Medicare Part a for another 98 months past termination of Part B. DH's health insurance says that for me to have his insurance, I have to have both A & B, just can't have Part A which is all I have now. DH's insurance company calls me "a non-insurable entity" - gotta love that label!!! Have spent the last 6 months fighting this. Went to SSA yesterday to talk to real people & the 2nd lady told me I was stuck in the disability system at Social Security. I can either pay for Part B for the rest of my life and get DH's insurance coverage, I can wait until Part a expires in Aug 2016 and then get his health insurance coverage or I can die at which time I assume both expire since I am also expired. I am so stinkin' mad it ain't funny and have decided that I'll wait until Aug 2016 to get health insurance. What a ridiculous situation and the idiots at SSA don't have a clue and talk to me like I'm an imbecilic idiot. Am going to see a supervisor on Monday with DH - we hope he can understand the situation. I am a disabled vet so have some healthcare coverage through the VA. Sorry for the long post and venting about the system but it is very frustrating and on-going.
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I know what you are going through, been there!!
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Agree Congress is too complacent with Rx, why not...they get their's for free...often for life. They are out of touch with reality. We are stuck paying for Cobra until I turn 65, another year. Beginning this past Oct have been paying $1,257. PER MONTH to have insurance...just for me. The only way I can keep from getting crazy is not to think about the total, not to mention what we could have paid for something else. My husband retired in Oct, went back to work as a sub because of this insurance. We are lucky to have that option...but the bottom line is he can't really retire until this is over AND the insurance companies keep scabbing off us.
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Originally Posted by gaiatender
Agree Congress is too complacent with Rx, why not...they get their's for free...often for life. They are out of touch with reality. We are stuck paying for Cobra until I turn 65, another year. Beginning this past Oct have been paying $1,257. PER MONTH to have insurance...just for me. The only way I can keep from getting crazy is not to think about the total, not to mention what we could have paid for something else. My husband retired in Oct, went back to work as a sub because of this insurance. We are lucky to have that option...but the bottom line is he can't really retire until this is over AND the insurance companies keep scabbing off us.
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One of the tings I find so insulting or even silly? When I get my COBRA "coupons" to pay my monthly fees, it is really a memeographed sheet with no divisions or way to tear off. I have to use scizzors to make each coupon, then mail it in my own envelope and stamp. They don't go out one bit. It really is so cheesy in a so-called industrialized, "modern" country, really unprofessional.
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Luckily my husband and I can buy generic drugs locally - three-month supply at a reasonable cost. We don't submit them to the insurance company, because of all the rules and regulations.
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I had a similar experience. My med was always brand name (no generics) Then Ins. company decided to change the way they filled it. WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME. The prescription has to be written as
"Capsules" and the generic can be used. Well, the script was being filled and they told me $600. No way.....Took me weeks to get it straightened out with dr to write "as capsules, Generic".....They only come in capsules whether generic or brand....DUH! Since it was always generic, why didn't they just fill it that way....I was told no generic available....What....did the ins. company change the way they can fill and Boom....a generic was made that day! |
I have MS also.....That injection med is out of this world!
I only pay $50, but lately I am injecting it every other week :( Then mail order calls monthly to renew! Tell them I don't need it yet. Asked me if I was using every week...Told them they are a pharmacy and not my keeper! She then states, I would have to notify your Dr. Hello....PIPA LAWS!.... All they want is there $$ |
What we all need to stay alive.
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Originally Posted by Japonica
And we wonder why our health care costs are so high. Who is "policing" these companies?????? NO ONE!!!!
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I think another reason our RX is so high is all the advertising on tv. Why do I need that. My doc can tell me what I need not the drug company.
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Originally Posted by ljorange
Originally Posted by Japonica
And we wonder why our health care costs are so high. Who is "policing" these companies?????? NO ONE!!!!
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have to be careful in 3rd world countries- they buy the name and the right to make the drug, but their quality control is not to be trusted. Lots of counterfeits too.
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Originally Posted by AliceQ
My dad has cancer. His Dr gave him a prescription. He took it to the pharmacy and was told it would be $10,000! The last offer they (Mom and Dad) got was $2,000, but that's still way too much. Dad says 'forget it, I'm 82 and lived a good life'.
Wish them luck! |
Originally Posted by gaiatender
One of the tings I find so insulting or even silly? When I get my COBRA "coupons" to pay my monthly fees, it is really a memeographed sheet with no divisions or way to tear off. I have to use scizzors to make each coupon, then mail it in my own envelope and stamp. They don't go out one bit. It really is so cheesy in a so-called industrialized, "modern" country, really unprofessional.
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Originally Posted by slstitcher
I think another reason our RX is so high is all the advertising on tv. Why do I need that. My doc can tell me what I need not the drug company.
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Think that person that asked if you wanted the name brand needs to take some kind of meds - do they make a med that cures asking dumb questions?
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