Tweet: 1-month bottle was $150—now $2.00...

[Playinghardball]

Xeni Jardin ✔ @xeni

Wow. First time refilling my daily anti-cancer-progression drug at pharmacy under my new ACA ins policy. 1-mo bottle was $150—now $2. #bcsm

4:54 PM - 4 Feb 2014

Found on the Obama Diary

[tridim]

1. Which is a prime reason why the 1% hate the regulations in the ACA.

No more monopolies and price-fixing via collusion. The free ride is over.

Deal with it corporations, we've already had to deal with your bullshit for decades.

[Shrike47]

2. The corps will find a way to prosper. They're clever that way.

[Jesus Malverde]

3. Do you think the price of the medicine magically changed?

Or did she get a massive subsidy?

I'm under the impression we're just shifting the cost from the consumer to the taxpayer.

The underlying cost of the medicine did not change.

[okaawhatever]

5. Likely both. The insurance companies have negotiated big discounts on prescription drugs and medical

services. By signing up, she received the discount the insurance company negotiated, plus maybe a subsidy of some sort. Depending on this individuals income it could be that she's paying a decent premium, so the savings of $148 isn't all savings.

There are other functions in the ACA that keep costs down without affecting taxpayers. For one, companies are basically limited to 20% profit. That's why so many people received refunds in the states that participated early. Second, a good part of ACA was paid for by a new 3.9% medicare tax that is paid by those earning over about 700k per year in regular income and on about 450k per year on capital gains. (Basically the 1%). Yes, some of the cost has been transferred to taxpayers but only to certain taxpayers. Also, one of the arguments for universal health care is that many without insurance were costing the taxpayers more through care in emergency rooms, lack of preventive care, disability and early death.

[WhiteTara]

4. OMG This is part of the job loss!

Congratulations on not having to work so hard for your medicine!

[kairos12]

6. Big pharma is not compensated, and not amused.

[Mr.Bill]

8. They'll be fine.

They still have W's Medicare Part D which prohibits the government from negotiating prices.

The insurance industry will be fine. The practically wrote the ACA.

[kairos12]

12. Your points are well taken. I tend to think Big Pharma and Insurance companies

see the model strictly through a zero/sum game. A dollar saved by the consumer is one less dollar for them, and consequently, a loss. I don't think they know the answer to the question "when is enough enough"?

I have to say it given your DU name. Oh, NOOOOOOOOOO.

[TheMathieu]

7. Wow.

Even if we get nothing done for the next 3 years, it will have all been worth it.

[LittleGirl]

9. Now that's worth shouting about!!! n/t

[octoberlib]

10. Aw, I love Xeni of boingboing.net. Glad to read this! nt

[PasadenaTrudy]

11. I picked up

two Rxs today, one was $3.65 and the other $5.00. Thirty day supply of Cymbalta (generic), and sixty days of Trazodone. Normally this time of year, I'm paying cash to meet $500 drug deductible. Not any more.