Health of Drug Company Profits Thrives at the Expense of Seniors

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/10/03/health-of-drug-company-profits-thrives-at-the-expense-of-seniors/

George Kourpias, president of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a 3.4-million members grassroots advocacy organization for current and future retirees, describes the extent and effects of drug company price gouging, as found in a new Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund report. Kourpias is a former president of the Machinists

By now, the fact that drug companies are profiting at the expense of patients is probably not surprising.

What is shocking is the extreme extent of price gouging by pharmaceutical companies–and the direct effect it is having on retirees.

For millions of Americans, high drug prices are a major barrier to maintaining an acceptable quality of life. Outrageous Fortune: How the Drug Industry Profits from Pills, a new report for the Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund, shows that seniors are struggling more than ever to afford the medications they need.

The Educational Fund first explored how price gouging by the pharmaceutical industry allows profits to soar at the expense of every American and every U.S. company providing health benefits in 2001.

Outrageous Fortune shows that despite the books, news reports and personal stories exposing the pharmaceutical industry since that time, there have not been any improvements to prescription drug access, nor lowering of drug costs. Rather, drug companies continue to protect their profits.

FULL story at link.

[grilled onions]

1. Seniors And Disabled Struggle All The Time

They keep telling us they will "allow" us to have choices. But we already have them. We have the choice to pay the light bill or buy our meds. We can choose to set aside money for taxes or rent or put money on the hospital bill. We have the option to buy some much needed clothes or shoes but we choose not to because we have that doctor bill sitting there. Yes we are loaded with choices but they all circle around the medical merry-go-round. Take a ride on it some time. You go in circles and you can never get off of it. You keep paying. You keep using more meds or medical services and you keep paying and going in circles. You can't enjoy an evening out or a quick lunch(without guilt of thinking what medical bill that should be going towards. You make do a lot with the clothes you have,aging appliances,very used cars or none at all. The only trips you make are do the doctor,the drugstore,the hospital and the short trips to the grocery store where again you have the choices to spend as little as you can because you know it's needed elsewhere.
Then you get to hear lecture tour #4 about how grans it is that "we" get choices to pick the doctors and insurance of our choice. Not really.
If you are in the pre existing population your choices are limited,costly and at end time can be terminated if you have the gall to use them more then they deem necessary. Many doctors won't take you because you are not on one of their plans and you can't get on their plans if you don't live in the right area or don't work or whatever excuse they can find. Sometimes you are required to pay cash which is often difficult when you haven't been ther before and don't know what they charge or if they do several things you can rack up quite a bill in half an hour or less.
There has to be a better way. It's too bad that those who can change the rules are confortable with their care and don't give a damn about ours.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Why Does Everyone Pick On The Drug Companies?

Sure they're scoundrels, but drugs are only 10% of health care spending in the US. Most of the other 90% is also wholesale greed and artificially jacked-up prices.