I was in the local pharmacy this afternoon,

[murielm99]

filling a prescription for my thyroid condition.

I am one of the lucky ones. My co-pay was 75 cents.

A guy was there with his wife and child. He looked like he was in his late thirties or early forties. He was trying to get a prescription filled, too.

Apparently he has some sort of a prescription plan, because he asked about his co-pay before filling the prescription. The pharmacist told him that it would be fifty dollars. The guy said that he would be back for it, because he could not afford that for a couple of days. I hope he does not have a life-threatening condition.

What kind of country is this, where I can waltz in and pay 75 cents, and a guy with a family has to wait for his medication because he cannot afford it?

[benburch]

1. My copay for MANY things is $50.

Which sucks.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. It's boooooshworld! This is what they wanted and now they have it.

:crazy: I will never be able to understand people who think this nutjob is actually any sort of leader. :crazy:

[GrumpyGreg]

13. This is hardly Bush's fault, it's been like that for years.

Where on earth have you been?

[Kerrytravelers]

14. I do recall * voters specifically saying that universal health care was

socialism and that *'s health care "ideas" was what is best for America. This "leader" certainly has taken no steps to improve it, but rather the situation seems to be getting worse and worse. Kerry/Edwards was very clear in their concept of opening up health care options for over 45 million Americans not covered at the time of the 2004 election.

This administration is all about the large corporation. So long as the corporations are well taken care of, the little people don't matter. Health care has gone from a non-for-profit to a business, and in the past 6 years (yes, it was big business prior to 2000) the profits have grown and the cost has gone straight to the average American, raising their premiums. When you have over 50 million (this was the last accurate number I am aware of) Americans unable to afford health care in a nation as rich and plentiful as ours, there is clearly a problem. I believe Kerry/Edwards addressed this, but their idea, along with much of what they stood for, was smeared and lied about. And unfortunately, there are many dissociated voters i in this country who simply were not paying attention.

In 6 years, it's gone from bad to worse. Technically, the theocracy in America isn't all *'s fault either, since the christian coalition started taking over the gop under ray-gun, but it has certainly gotten worse under this administration.

There was no call to be so snippy toward me. I have been right here, on Earth, with the rest of the growing majority of Americans tired of this administration and it's negligence toward the poor and those who dissent against their attempt to thwart democracy in this country.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. The lack of national health care is most definitely his fault

Had Kerry been sworn in as Prez, we would have national health care.

[Kerrytravelers]

17. Since I live in CA, I didn't see all those insane ads * was putting out.

When I traveled (for Kerry) into other states, I did see some. I could not believe what insanity I saw! OMG! I can not believe people were dumb enough to think that the same health care system the Senate is allowed to buy into is ok for our government (and that includes the conservatives), but if the average American bought into the system on a sliding scale, it was now somehow socialism. Someone explain the logic?!?!?!?

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. As long as the Congress has the plan they do,

we are going to have a hard time convincing them there is a health care crisis. Their coverage is the cadillac model, while us worker peons with health insurance have the Kia model. The uninsured are forced to ride the subway.

[Kerrytravelers]

22. We have KKKaiser. I actually like my doctors, but the system can be

so convoluted, and I know most people have it worse than us.

Years and years ago, Mr kt pulled his back a bit. He recovered years ago. When we married, he left San Diego and move to the LA area with me. Somehow, they lost his records in the 150 journey. Without informing us, they simply dropped him. We actually had to drive to every Kaiser between LA and SD looking for these damn things. Finally, they were recovered. When we tried to get back on, they considered him a "returning" client and he had to reapply. They looked at his back "injury" that had recovered YEARS ago and considered that a pre-existing condition. We went to the doctor he had at the time and begged him to talk to those who made the decision, telling them that there was indeed no back issues. He said "I don't know about how insurance works." I finally asked him why he was against us. Needless to say, this was devastating to us financially. Mr kt's premium tripled. Eventually, we turned this "doctor" into the medical review board. It has been a few years, so I am fuzzy with some of the exact details, but there is a medical practitioner's review that deals with general negligence. They weren't surprised by our story. We were lucky enough to eventually find a job that would cover us both and now we pay a hell of a lot less. I don't see how people who don't have benefits make it.

We were very lucky and we appreciate it everyday.

[GrumpyGreg]

25. You don't really know that. Clinton tried,and failed.

[Kerrytravelers]

29. The point isn't whether or not we would necessarily have the health care

by 2006. The point is that * doesn't care. His followers really don't care either. They are rich and could give a shit about the poor, or they are poor and don't get that voting against gay people and abortions is really a vote against their own self interest. The poor suffer in boooosh world.

Yes, Clinton tried and failed. That doesn't mean health care coverage would have failed this time. But * and his nutcase group of "leaders" were hell bent on confusing the voters with lies regarding Kerry's ideas. Now that we're stuck with the chimp one more term (hopefully shorter), we have seen the medicare debacle and all kinds of health care problems that seem to only be getting worse under this fool.

Corporate take-over and privatization is what the rethugs want and that is what they are getting. And the skyrocketing costs are passed down to the working class and poor. This is what booooosh world is all about.

[GrumpyGreg]

30. Yes,Bush is rich and so is Kerry.

All of the wealthy elite politicians and their equally rich minions don't give a damn about us.

Two things matter to them:wealth and power.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Some of us don't have a prescription plan.

Or health insurance.

What kind of country indeed.

[Cleita]

5. ...

:hug:

I and others are trying to work to end this.

[beam me up scottie]

6. Thank you.

A woman I work with has to have a complete hysterectomy due to cervical cancer that wasn't caught and treated soon enough.

She was able to pay for her child's health care but not her own.

Now Blue Cross is trying to deny her coverage because it was a pre-existing condition.

[opiate69]

24. Yep.. no insurance here either..

[Cleita]

4. I stand in the prescription line and see stuff like this all the time.

I don't know why your co-pay is 75 cents except that your medication is probably pretty cheap. My co-pays can be up to $75 and down depending on the time of year it is. I still can manage it, but I really feel terribly sorry for those who can't.

I really wish we took the big PHARMA by the horns and brought them down. There is no reason that anyone should be denied the medication they need because they don't have the cash.

[Nevernose]

9. Would be a really popular platform plank for Dem candidates. too

It's hard to lose on that one. I just wish some of them would back it up with actions instead of promises.

[beam me up scottie]

7. If anyone is concerned about this issue,

you must read this post about public health malpractice in the Health Forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x8394

[shance]

8. Muriel, thank you for your thoughtful, empathetic post.

I often wonder the same thing - I am heartbroken at the economic system which hurts so many innocent people.

It sadly, is a pretty cruel system. Over time I have come to realize the 'pick yourselves up by the bootstraps' has been one of the greatest lies ever sold to a naive and often, all too willing America.

Thanks for your caring post. I hope it is not a life threatening situation for him or his family, either.

[politicat]

10. A country with the wrong priorities.

If we would cover things like health care, we couldn't afford to pick fights we can't win.

Our monthly prescription costs in COPAYS are about $300. I take three, my husband takes four. All temporary conditions, but temporary in terms of a couple years, not a couple months. They'd be higher if Claritin-D had not gone OTC, but since the Feds have decided that allergy sufferer equals meth maker (even though pseudoephedrine sulfate is utterly useless for meth-makers) we may have to go back on a prescription decongestant.

I'm lucky we're well employed and reasonably well insured.

[Erika]

21. The uninsured is growing tremendously each year in

the working class. W chooses who he wishes to utilize our taxes to give heath care, and it's not us.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

11. I pay about $350/month & I have insurance ($500/mth)

n/t

[Reciprocity]

12. Our insurance is almost $8,000 dollars a year.

Our co-pay on meds runs from $10-80, doctors office $25.00. Which means I have to be real sick to see the Doctor because most of my money is already spent on the premiums. Even so I know how fortunate we are to have insurance in the first place.

[TexasLady]

15. we dont have insurance...

neither my H or me, or our daughter. I paid three grand over two years to my dentist so i could smile and eat, and pay about a hundred bucks a pop for my doctor's visit to keep my blood pressure in check. my doctor is the bomb and gives me samples when she can, so i wont see numbers like before the meds...(180/120) and im presently saving for my youngest daughter's first dental check up. I also pay for my older daughter's hearing aids that arent covered by insurance and enjoy the couple hundred a year for my eye exams..stupid stigmatisms add on the regular price. son is covered by dad, but copay is large for glasses.... yippee.

[Kerrytravelers]

18. Hearing aids aren't covered?

That just burnes me up. I can't imagine how angry that makes you!

[Erika]

20. This makes me so angry

We pay for universal health care, through our taxes, for Israel and Iraq, but we deny our own citizens health care?

W's corporate gobalism has not been kind to our citizens. He's screwed them in every way possible while being compassionate and paying for other countries universal health care programs.

He needs to be impeached, the sooner the better.

[Nikia]

23. Our previous health insurance had a copay of 25%

When a specialist decided to treat my chronic sinus infection agressively, I was shocked to find out that my antibiotic would cost over $100 out of pocket. The drug full price was $425.
My current plan is $5 for generic and $10 for name brand.

[SoCalDem]

26. My husband has two meds with a $75 co-pay

2 with a $50 and 1 with a $25..

Back when we had a good Union plan, ALL meds were $3.. Of course for the 15 years we had that plan, NO ONE neded any meds..:shrug:..

It costs us $275 out of pocket every time he needs refills..:grr:

[Lars39]

27. I went to visit my brother in the hospital today.

Almost 50, in there for a heart attack. Almost the first words out of his mouth to me was that he was going to have to have a yard sale to pay for his care because he had no insurance. :cry:

The fecking owner of the plant he works for stopped paying for everyone's insurance a few months ago.
I wish a most painful agony on that worthless piece of shyte. :mad:

[Vinca]

28. Wow - prescription coverage is a fantasy to us.

We had to give up health insurance when it rose to $12,000 a year with a huge deductible. The priorities in this country are ass backwards and no one in our current regime - of either party - seems willing to take the bold step that must be taken. Some of the states are trying in baby steps, but in every one so far, no one is willing to rein in the insurance companies so the cost isn't reduced that dramatically and when it is cut, services suffer. It's very discouraging.

[Vexatious Ape]

31. Capitalist--fascist