Peeve of the day-May 31,2010 (cost, free, scene, senior)

[LaceyEx]

Obscene costs of prescription meds.

[Thursday007]

I had to go off a med that was covered by coupons from the manufacturerer. When the coupons were no more and the insurance company didn't cover it it was $500 a month and I had to quit taking it an it was the one med we knew that worked.....sucks. No generics exist on it either....sucks.

[country pride]

Yep. I had a real bad toenail fungus once and the Rx they wanted to give me cost $180 for a 30 day supply...and you HAVE to take it for 3 months, twice a day, completely or the fungus comes back. Its not covered by insurance because its considered 'cosmetic'. So.....the dr came up with a better idea. He gave me an Rx for some yeast infection meds, and its one of those you only take once a week for those 3 months (in a real yeast infection, only one tablet would have cleared you up but for this toenail thing, it takes 3 months) and it worked great at 20 bucks per refill.
No, Ive never had a yeast infection but if this did the job for nail fungus for me, I would recommend it!

[Cunucu Beach]

I got this from a pharmacist but I already suspected it, anyway:

"It's not research and development that makes drugs cost so much. It's marketing."

One cannot turn on the TV with seeing one ad after another for some prescription drug. Big Pharma spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year on advertising--TV, radio and magazines. In Europe, direct marketing of prescription drugs to consumer is not allowed. If it were that way in this country, the cost of drugs would come down. In addition to advertising, every drug company has drug reps that visit doctors and hospitals (every hospital, clinic, office, etc. in the entire country) to push their drugs and leave free samples.) Those drug reps are highly paid. And every medical seminar has a booth set up where the reps give out free samples and push their drugs, too.

[LaceyEx]

^^So true^^^

[elizamary]

Dh and I are lucky we have a plan from his work which was offered to him for life.

But I do hear some horror stories right here in my community. Some have ordered from foriegn countries cuz it's the ony way they can do it. Also One couple has NO insurance. They are seniors but not medicare age and can't afford the premiums.

Obscene cost......disgraceful, through the roof, unthinkable, damming....Oh I get so angry to think of what people do pay for perscriptions.
Some have to choose to eat or their necessary drugs to stay alive.
Another subject that don't get me started on.

[Dbl-r]

It's very unfortunate but yes this is one of many things / items that has gotten out of control that we will probably never see corrected in our lives.

[2goldens]

I have a prescription plan included in my health insurance. My problem is the prescription plan doesn't cover most drugs. I have 3 prescriptions that need to be filled, none are covered. I don't understand how I benefit? That other problem I have with this company, they cover some prescriptions partial and leave me with the high cost co-pay. One prescription I have right now of $83.00 co-pay; on the last doctor visit, my physician asked me how the medication is working. Oh pleeeezeee don't get me started!

[Gue]

You must chose financial health or physical health...

[JustJoy]

My son's grandfather has around $600 a month in prescription costs not covered by insurance and fortunately his father is able to pay it for him, as well as his GP mortgage is paid off. Like others have said it's downright shameful the money they spend in marketing, lobbiest and whatnot instead of making the cost affordable.

Then there's the insurance companies themselves who will cover non essential meds, but not ones that are really needed - though guess that's a subject for another day.