If your health insurance plan forces you to use Express Scripts, they are about to get even WORSE.

[CousinIT]

Health insurer Cigna to buy Express Scripts in $67 billion package

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/03/08/health-insurer-cigna-to-buy-express-scripts-for-52-billion/?utm_term=.db8f63d0e86a

In another mega deal to reshape the business of negotiating drug prices, health insurer Cigna said Thursday it will acquire Express Scripts Holding, the nation's largest pharmacy benefit manager, in a package valued at $67 billion.

The merger is the latest shoe to drop in a health-care industry in flux. The pharmacy benefit industry — which negotiates for drug discounts on behalf of employers and insurers — has come under increasing scrutiny over its role in drug prices. In December, CVS Health, a major pharmacy benefit manager, announced it would acquire the insurer Aetna.

Four of the nation's largest health insurance companies have tried in the past to grow through mergers — and failed due to antitrust concerns. In contrast, these vertical mergers that bring together companies with different health-care functions have been seen as having a better chance. The CVS move was also seen by some as defense against a possible Amazon entry into the prescription drug industry.

Notice NOWHERE in this bullshit "sell you a ocean in the middle of a desert" corprat feel-good jargon in the article linked above does it say "we aim to provide BETTER HEALTHCARE TO PATIENTS" or "we aim to make healthcare affordable and accessible to more people". And that's because their ONLY objective is to make their CEOS and stockholders RICHER while people DIE from being denied critical care or from being denied affordable care that they can access without going bankrupt. They are PARASITES who feed on the just-born, sick, diseased, injured, and dying. How this is allowed in ANY country on this planet is beyond me. It ought to be universally outlawed on the mere grounds that it is IMMORAL.

THESE are America's DEATH PANELS. They need to be put OUT of our misery by being busted up and relegated to supplemental health insurance only -- that which a single-payer, universal, or Medicare for all system does not cover -- like it is in CIVILIZED countries.

AETNA
CIGNA
UNITED HEALTHCARE
EXPRESS SCRIPTS
GLAXO SMITH-KLINE
PHIZER

[Farmer-Rick]

1. Crap, we are on Tricare, or whatever the new name for military retirees health care is now called

And express script is usually the lowest priced option for meds on that healthcare plan.

That's a big vocal group if they start screwing with us.

[Ilsa]

3. My MIL is on

Tricare for Life and gets her Rxs from Express Scripts. She is supposed to get them free if she goes through mail order. But starting in February, they are making them cough up a copay of $7 for each Rx, up to $52, IIRC, for brand name drugs.

The tax cut got her nothing as she pays no taxes, and her SSI keeps getting squeezed.

[Ilsa]

2. Here's one for you: Georgia Medicaid insists you buy the Brand Name

of a certain drug instead of the generic. They won't reimburse for the generic.

The problem is, no one has the brand name right now, and the generic is widely available. (The pharm manufacturer moved their production facility.) How screwed up is that?

[Lee-Lee]

4. Ugh thats just great

[csziggy]

5. Express Script screwed up my prescription repeatedly

The generic version was flawed and did not work properly (patch released a large amount of drug at first, then trailed off to nothing, meaning the drug levels were vastly uneven). My doctor's script REQUIRED the brand name because of this. Express Script ignored that and shipped the generic in a three month supply. I had to pay for that erroneous supply as well as pay for the brand name out of pocket. It took months for them to follow the doctor's script precisely.

The one good thing - I found that Texas has a mechanism for complaining about prescription drug companies and put in a complaint. It took a couple of years but one day I got a check from them refunding the amount I had paid to Express Script for the incorrect generic drug. I never got refunded for the money I paid out of pocket for the brand name drug.

As a result I will NOT use any mail order drug company. I use local drug stores even if they are chains. My Medicare drug plan uses Walgreen's. I can go into the store and check the prescription at the desk. If it is incorrect I can refuse it and insist that my prescription be filled as written by the doctor - and not have to pay for the wrong one and wait for the correct one.

[GeorgeGist]

6. Thanks for the heads-up.

I just switched to Express Scripts from Cigna. I suppose I'll have to switch again next year.