Just back from the pharmacy.

[PETRUS]

I was there to pick up medicine for my (homebound) mother. The cashier asked the customer in front of me for her insurance info, she said she had none, the cashier said ok, then your total is $140.00. The woman froze up for a few seconds, then said never mind and walked away.

[gateley]

1. Heartbreaking. And SO wrong. nt

[MedicalAdmin]

15. I stopped taking my pain meds when they went from

$6 per month to $200 per month. That combined with the fact that my doc wouldn't write a script for more than 1 months worth and it cost $85 for 5 minutes ...

Well alcohol is cheaper and almost as effective.


This shit needs to stop happening. .... Anyone know of any tea we can dump in a harbor....?

[nenagh]

19. Here in Ontario narcotic Rx's etc can be written using "part fills"..

ie, the Dr writes for a total quantity of the Narcotic... and says dispense X number every eg 30 days..

Which allows the pharmacy to dispense that quantity of med every eg 30 days.. so a person is not continually having to visit the Dr.

[MedicalAdmin]

68. Some clinics here do that, but most don't.

Canada doesn't have the DEA breathing down the neck of doctors tho'.

[gateley]

41. Again, just so wrong. I'm so sorry.

:hug:

[MedicalAdmin]

69. Thanks.

It could be worse. Mostly I control it by being very careful with my spine and avoiding things that cause pain. ANd when that doesn't work there is always beer.

:toast:

[Lorien]

62. If you were taking Ultram Costco has the generic for $10 a month

and they'll call your doctor to refill monthly. The same prescription costs $185 at Walgreens.

[MedicalAdmin]

70. Thanks....

Unfortunately I have a genetic anomaly in my phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification pathways that precludes most analgesic. My prescription was for SR morphine. When prices for it went up drastically I just gave up on it. It just wasn't worth it any more.

I found that alcohol combined with the occasional use of Kava root (a non addicting narcotic from the south pacific) seems to work. Plus I am hyper vigilant about PT, stretching and other preventative therapies so mostly things are OK.

It was nice of you to mention that option for me tho'.

[azul]

47. Medicare for all, the time has come.

I've about had it up to here with this BS. The system is broken, and ripe for change.

[Desertrose]

2. Ridiculous. Costs big pharma a few pennies most likely.

Rx prices in this country are insane.

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. Grr... I hope she goes right to her computer and posts to the I Am The 99% website

[Norrin Radd]

4. kr

I have three prescriptions for my middle ear problem, but I only get two, because one of them is priced exorbitantly beyond my means. It probably only costs a few bucks in countries with national healthcare.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. That is a testament to the Christianity of Congress and Obama.

They shaft the poor-Obama says phama 'deserves' their profits- and preen over which of them is the most stridently anti gay, call that Christ, bow to it, call it a day. Fakes, hypocrites, a generation of vipers.

[Ezlivin]

6. Yeah, but it was the BEST FUCKING MEDICINE in the whole world

Because, as we are often told by those who don't know jack shit, we have the best healthcare system in the whole world.

Hell, our drugs are so fucking good that you don't even need to pick them up at the pharmacy. Just walking past them is beneficial.

We're Number One!

[spin]

9. Our healthcare system is far from the best and it is the most expensive ...

It also appears that it will become more expensive and lose quality.

[nineteen50]

13. "We're Number 37" - Paul Hipp you tube

[Mimosa]

55. Thanks, that's good. Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4

nineteen50, I'd never seen that before.

[Capitalocracy]

43. It is the best medicine in the world.

Insofar as it's exactly the same medicine you can often get cheaper in other parts of the world.

[libertypirate]

7. On a side note, check prices at multiple chains before giving up!

I found that a $180.00 prescription at Target costs me $28.00 at Costco. Which is ridiculous because my first response upon hearing the $180.00 number was it wasn't worth the money.

My wife had a similar situation with a different prescription. So despite my initial gut response which was depressing as hell. I checked the other chain and was astonished that the same generic medication could cost so much less.

This might be something to check into even if you can afford to get robbed by these crooks!

[virgogal]

12. That is an astonishing difference. I didn't even know that Costco

and Target had pharmacies.

[Bozita]

80. You don't have to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy.

Same goes for their eye exams and eyeglasses.

[Liberal_in_LA]

22. good to know.

[flpab]

42. Wow, didn't know that

I just paid 76.00 for a scrip that had no generic. I am going to go do a check.

[Missy Vixen]

45. Thyroid meds at the local pharmacy: $24 per month w/insurance

Thyroid meds at Costco: $21 for a three-month supply.

We think a lot of our local pharmacist, but we can't afford her anymore. There is a significant savings on other family prescriptions as well.

[gkhouston]

48. A lot of grocery stores sell a variety of generic meds for cheap.

I get my thyroid meds at a nearby grocery: $10 for a 90-day supply.

[LadyHawkAZ]

51. The Smith's pharmacy I use will price-match Costco

usually you have to specifically ask them, but they do it automatically with my albuterol inhalers- average $50 per inhaler and I have no insurance.

I don't know if other chains also do this, but it never hurts to ask.

[loyalsister]

8. I think it would suck to be a pharmacist

The can't all be cold- blooded. I once saw an elderly man stealing vitamins and OTC stuff in a very small pharmacy. It was a small enough pharmacy that I would be surprised if they didn't know or at least suspect. There was no way I was going to embarrass him but, I feel kind of guilty that it closed.

[Pacifist Patriot]

64. I know the plural of anecdote isn't data, but I personally know two pharmacists....

Well, strictly speaking one pharmacist and one former pharmacist. The one still in the profession is depressed as hell and the former pharmacist left the profession because of compassion fatigue. It's got to be a really thankless job some days.

[Snotcicles]

10. Skinner, can I post a link where folks can get a free drug discount card? nt

[MedicalAdmin]

17. Post it anyway.

Even if it gets removed at least some people will have seen it.

Get the info out there. Please.

[mrmpa]

35. I carry these cards in my wallet...we get them as fillers in ...

catalogs and magazines. I've handed them out to people (mostly seniors) who seem appalled by the price they're being asked to pay. I saw one woman hand it to the clerk and heard her payment go down from $75 to 13.99.

[Mimosa]

56. Link, please! n/t

[mrmpa]

58. link below

http://www.simplesavingscard.com/lp2/default.aspx?code=xcr30&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=discount%20prescription%20card

[Snotcicles]

67. Here is a really good one and on this site you can get the prices of your meds

at all the pharmacy's in your zip code. Just click the medication pricing tab at the top.
http://freedrugcardsite.com/en/?rxgrp=ps09#

[tblue37]

44. Did you ever post that link? nt

[DesertFlower]

11. our medical plans pays a large percentage

of our prescriptions. they do let us know what the regular price is. amazing. especially the most prescribed drugs like statins and high blood pressure meds.

[MedicalAdmin]

18. And the sad part is that in study after study. ...

statins didn't do as well as diet and exercise or other "first line therapies."

Statins actually don't extend your life or make you less likely to die, but they do make sure that your lab numbers are real purdy when you croak.

[Skittles]

24. CORRECT

it kills me (hey is that pun?) how so many people are willing to take expensive pills rather than just do the right thing - watch what they eat and EXERCISE DAILY

[MedicalAdmin]

71. EAting healthy doesn't have to be complicated.

We teach patients all the time how to do it. And our methods are the recognized first line therapy for metabolic diseases according to the NIH.

[DesertFlower]

39. i agree. even though my lipids are high

i refuse to take them.

[MedicalAdmin]

72. Have you considered a therapeutic lifestyle modification program....

.... like First Line Therapy? Honestly, just eating well, in modest portions, every 3 hours, slightly below your BMR, choosing primarily low glycemic foods and good quality proteins, combined with regular exercise will fix most of these problems (assuming that there isn't some other underlying problem in your case).

Good luck on the lipids.

[DesertFlower]

76. i rarely eat meat and i'm

very careful with fats. i eat some white meat chicken and occasionally salmon. i exercise regularly and i'm thin. my liver makes too much cholesterol. i'm taking fish oil, red rice yeast and garlic trying to lower it. also started oral EDTA.

[MedicalAdmin]

77. Sound like a general good plan.

One caution about fish oil. Over the counter companies are very uneven in their production of it with the exception of Nordic naturals. The problem is both in making sure that it is heavy metal free as well as having a healthy blend of omega 3 vs 6. Generally speaking it is a good idea to take a similar ratio, or I'd that doesn't work the to take the 3s because the standard American diet (SAD) has too much omega 6s.

If you have specific question feel free to message me.

[DesertFlower]

78. thanks. nt

[Brigid]

46. I have just (reluctantly) started taking a statin.

Because my lipids are very high. But believe me, I will be watching very closely for side effects, and my doctor and I will have to have a serious talk about the actual benefits. For that kind of money, I want more than just purdy numbers on a lipid panel.

[MedicalAdmin]

73. Good luck.

It is a difficult decision. We try to keep patients off statins, but sometimes....

Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise. :)

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. What is fascinating to me is that my neighbor pays more in co-pay for her meds

than the pharmacy charges without insurance!
I compared her meds with 5 pharmacies here in town, the prices without insurance varied widely, 3 of them charge less than her co-pay.
But, when I told her, she was adamant that she would use her insurance because " I am paying for the insurance".

[Snotcicles]

29. I shop around before buying meds I have been able to beat my copays too. nt

[mrmpa]

36. I won't let my mother use her insurance.............

She is covered under Pennsylvania's PaceNet. The cost to her if she uses it is about $35 a month. I have her using a Medicine Shoppe, where they will fill her scripts for 3 months at $10. Using PaceNet, she is not allowed to get a 3 month prescription filled, and each month she would have to pay $35 + $8 for generics. So for one med using PaceNet for 3 months her cost would be $129. She also uses a discount card for her pain medication which without the card would be $55, she gets for $13.99.

[Snotcicles]

37. Insurance companies are ripping off big time. nt

[gkhouston]

50. +1.

Years ago, I started taking a compounded version of one of my meds. It has a short half-life and the compounding makes it a sustained release medication. My insurance didn't cover it. Cost of the compounded med: $35.50 for 30-day supply. Co-pay for the regular med, which didn't work as well for me: $35.

[global1]

14. And Now This Lady May Get Sicker And Cost The System More Money.....

because she is not going to be compliant to her prescription. Instead of focusing on keeping people out of the system to save money - we do everything possible to make it hard for people to remain healthy and they then become a bigger burden on the system.

[Snotcicles]

16. I have been able to beat even my co-pay costs for a couple prescriptions

buying over the counter not using my insurance.

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. awwww.

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. I heard that pharmacists will divide an order, sell a week's worth

[Skittles]

25. would that be legal?

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. why not?

[Brother Buzz]

34. Yes. Pharmacists are so accommodating, they will even sell individual bandages

Seriously.

They are great people to have in your camp

[gkhouston]

49. Yes. A partial fill of the prescription is legal.

It's merely a variant of what happens when they don't have enough pills to fill your prescription--they keep track of how many pills they've dispensed and you can get the rest later, if need be. I've even had pharmacies advance me a 5-day supply of pills while waiting for a refill to be authorized.

[Pacifist Patriot]

65. Provided correct dosages are dispensed, sure.

I've had a prescription filled at two different Publix pharmacies in town because one did not have enough pills to fill the original prescription. They gave me what they had on hand so I could start taking it right away. They called the other store to let them know what was going on (and noted it in the computer system I would imagine). I then filled the rest at the other Publix the next day.

[demmiblue]

28. Yes they will, but that still doesn't mean the person can afford the meds. n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

31. I understand. But maybe they can afford a week's supply until pay or something

[demmiblue]

32. True.

However, a person that does that really can't afford to pay for the meds they need without sacrificing in other areas.

;(

[ladyVet]

66. my sister does this

not for price (she has really good insurance -- so far), but because she is allergic to so many medicines, she normally only gets a few pills of anything new, until she is sure she can take it.

[demmiblue]

27. $1500...

I was talking to a young woman (very early 20's, college student) last weekend, she related to me that she went to the pharmacy without her insurance info (she is on her parent's insurance policy, lost her card). She asked what the cost would be so that she could simply pay out of pocket. $1500!

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. wow.

[bvar22]

30. Its the "Uniquely American Solution", in action.

Our politicians have decided that Americans will just have to Settle for FAR LESS than
what the citizens of civilized countries Take For Granted.

If everybody has access to good health care, adequate housing, healthy food, and good education
it wouldn't be near as much FUN to be RICH!!!!

The "Uniquely American Solution"!!!

Thank GAWD it passed.



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
Solidarity99!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[eridani]

38. The business model for the American health care "system"

[NMMNG]

40. I had a period when I was without insurance

There would be instances when the pharmacy technician ringing up my prescriptions would do a double-take at the prices. It's terrible so many people have to go without necessary medicines and medical care because they don't have insurance. That shouldn't happen in a supposed First-World nation like the US.

[StarsInHerHair]

52. I also heard an old man, in his 80s, at the window asking about his wife's meds

& they coldly told him they weren't ready & he-so sadly- said 'but my wife just had a stroke & NEEDS the medicine'.........I thought they only played that game with pain pills, but no.

It still haunts me, this happened over 3 years ago.

[Scuba]

53. Quit screwing around. Medicare for All.

[Mimosa]

54. That could have been me.

I no longer can afford health insurance premiums.


Also, people who have high deductible health insurance plans often can't afford prescriptions. Typical high deductible plans stipulate a patient has to meet a $1,000 or more deductible before insurance will cover any Rxs. I have a friend who has treatable condition but can't afford the Rx which would cost her $370. She has no alternative other than going without treatment. :(

[ileus]

57. When we had no insurance we called pharmacies and asked pricing.

Lowest price got our business.

It was odd the lowest price was hardly ever at Wal-Mart. This was before the 4 buck idea come along BTW...

[ThatsMyBarack]

59. Corporate A$$hole medical industry....

More like CORRUPT! :mad:

[azlatina]

60. Costco vs Walgreens

I had to fill a prescription for 9 tablets of Imetrex or generic for my daughter who suffers from migraines. I called Walgreen's and was informed that self-pay would cost me $230 for Imetrex or $160 for the generic. However, if I paid $30 fee for their discount plan, I would pay $94 for the generic. I then called Costco and their price for 9 tablets of the generic would cost me $23!!! When I went to pay for the prescription, they signed me up for their discount program and I ended up paying $18. I will not be filling any more prescriptions at Walgreen's or any other boxstore pharmacy.

[Lorien]

63. Yep, Walgreens has a generic of Ultram for $185, Costco has the same for

$10. And by the way, Google "Botox for migraines"; that's what I use instead of drugs. Costs about $280 twice a year, just a couple of shots between the eyebrows and on the temples and it knocks out all migraines and tension headaches for at least six months.

[Blue Owl]

61. This kind of tale warms a teabagger's heart

Isn't that what's important here?

:sarcasm:

[mn9driver]

74. 1 med for my wife is $547 per month

Our insurance recently changed their formulary and now they don't cover it anymore. We've been getting by with 10 day partial fills that she stretches out to last the rest of the month. It still costs $195, but we can find ways to cover that much. For now, anyway.

[sarcasmo]

75. Worst industrialized nation on the Planet. Such a sad deal for the customer in front of you.

[Fire Walk With Me]

79. I'm still pissed about this.

[Vinca]

81. I think we're supposed to beg.

Call the company that makes the drug and plead for a cut rate. It's disgusting. Greatest country on the planet my ass.

[SoDesuKa]

82. Amoxicillin

I went to the doctor with an ear infection; he wrote out a prescription for amoxicillin. Unfortunately, I had just started out in the plan and there was a $200 overall deductible for drugs. The druggist wanted $115 for the amoxicillin and I didn't have it. So I went without. The infection went away by itself.

Just now I learned that there's fish amoxicillin - you put it in the fish tank for infections. I wonder if it's the same stuff, and it's cheap. Like eight dollars.



For ear and bladder infections.

[Rowdyboy]

83. I take two drugs which, without insurance, would cost nearly $2000 per month....

I don't have $2000 extra a month. I don't have $200 extra a month. Without insurance I would be dead within a year.

[DeschutesRiver]

84. I just did the same thing

Doc told me I had basal thumb joint arthritis. It has hurt like hell, or I wouldn't have even gone in. Doc said I could try a splint + pain relief of a topical NSAID, or cortisone shots if that didn't work, and last, surgery. His assistant shows me some splints and I ask how much - she said she had no idea, but "don't worry, your insurance pays for it."

When I went to Costco to get the prescription filled, they handed me the Pennsaid drug and said "that will be $274". And I told them to put it back on the shelf. That would be 60 days worth, which might be worth it if it worked, because this pain is bad. But if it doesn't work after a week or so, I just throw out that much money? That is flat out crazy. The gal behind the counter said - that is everyone's reaction, and nobody buys it. I called a closer pharmacy, but they said same price. Told me that they stocked it at first, but no one would buy it so now they just order it if someone asks (but no one has yet). This drug has been in Europe for awhile now, I'm betting it is far cheaper there than here.

To keep my insurance affordable as I age (always been self employed in the past), I had to go with a 5K deductible - that's 5k for me and 5k for dh, so 10k if we both get ill at the same time. So no, the insurance will not cover the splint, will not cover the office visit or xray, but hey, they did offer to pay $10 of the $274 dollar prescription. Same will be true of the cortisone shots and the surgery - until I shell out $5,000, the insurance won't kick in.

I am kicking myself that I didn't wait for the office visit until January to let these costs count against my 2012 deductible - I honestly thought there might be a fracture that would just require a cast and be fixed and I just wanted the pain to stop. But this arthritis thing is going to be ongoing. So now, this visit goes to my deductible for this year, and then in January, I start all over again working down the full 5k deductible. Stupid stupid move.

In the meantime, I've found a topical nsaid called Voltaren emugel from a pharmacy in Canada, and had them send it to me. Not sure it is doing much, but it didn't cost as much either. Going to try to get a sample of the Pennsaid from my doc, and hope the splint they sold me isn't outraegeous (I've found them now on the internet, but I'm betting there will be quite an upcharge because I bought it from a clinic who thinks my insurance is footing the bill).

Have had this same insurance since I was in my 30s. Don't get sick often, and if I do go in, it is because something is very messed up. I pretty much consider it catastrophic help and nothing more, although now it pays for physicals and such. But I certainly understand how it feels to be in big pain, and have to put a prescription back on the shelf. And we pay quite a bit per month for this policy - it isn't cheap. Anyone who thinks health care in this country isn't screwed up, merely doesn't have their own head screwed on tightly.