$91 for medication yesterday!

[SarahB]

I'm fortunate enough to only need one prescription medication- Imitrex for occasional migraines. I'm well insured and work in health care, but was floored yesterday when I picked up a prescription for 9 pills for $91 (last refill I had to only pay $30, but it changed). Insurance paid $96 of the total $187 bill. Jesus H. Christ. Our system justs sucks ass, doesn't it? :(

[Guava Jelly]

1. That is just crazy.

Thats $10.10 a pill..Sweet Jeebus..I hope you don't need them too often.

[SarahB]

8. Usually only 1-2 a month.

Personally, I think the only pill that should be $10 a pop is one that gives someone a boner for an entire weekend.

:hide:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Ding, Ding, Ding!!! SarahBelle should be Surgeon General.

A weekend of partying for only $10. WooHoo!

:hi:

:rofl:

'cept that pill would be the death of me ...

[Guava Jelly]

17. Um...They are pretty close to that btw

Lets just say i went through a bad spell.
Many men in their 40's do so I am not embarrassed.
I am quite ok now though "strong like bull":hide:

[SarahB]

20. I've heard that.

I'm always curious about them. My hubby doesn't particularly need them (he's 39 :P), so I think if he used one I'd probably walk funny for weeks.

Then again, I once saw a Sex in the City episode and apparently they do fun things for women too.

[Droopy]

2. It really sucks when you have to buy meds for mental illness

I've been without decent health insurance for a year and a half and my monthly bill for meds has been $350. I will have good health insurance here in about 2 weeks, but my monthly bill will still be about $100. And get this- that's cheap. I know a woman who has the same illness as me and her meds come to almost $900 a month before insurance. I think she pays around $200 to cover her part. I'm really fortunate in that of the 4 meds I take 3 of them are generics. Some people need the newer meds because they don't respond well to the older stuff.

[zanne]

3. A small tube of ointment for rosacea....

$150.00. Topical creams have ridiculous prices.

[bettyellen]

5. ouch! have you tried allergy meds?

this nasal spray Nasalcrom is OTC and works pretty well for a lot of people. (sprayed on skin- and up the nose) I was kind of suprised to find out how well Claratin and nasal sprays worked for me. And Aveeno's cleanser in the beigey plastic.
but after being perscribed a 75$ cleanser, I googled for other answers.

[SarahB]

7. I use OTC generic Claritin.

$19.99 for 180 tabs. :thumbsup:

[bettyellen]

9. so do i! but I was trying to tell Zane most dermotologists won;t tell you to try

allergy medicines for roseaca... but there's alot of people that find relief w/ the sprays and Claritin, I know I do,
wow, 20 bucks for 180? that's less than i pay at target. and i know you ain;t going to walmart. :thumbsup:

[SarahB]

10. BJ's Warehouse.

I used to go to Target until one opened up near me. I wish we had a Costco close by, but at least it's not Sam's Club or Walmart.

[bettyellen]

13. that's a good idea.... My friend joined Costco and is looking for things to buy

i'll get her to stock up on it for me.
tks! hope you and the Fin man are well! :hi:

[SarahB]

14. We're very well.

He has a 3 day weekend and is in Philly with Finnfan Jr. I had to work most it unfortunately, but I'm home today just chilling on DU and playing board games with my boys. :hi:

[zanne]

28. Wow--bettyellen....

I have some free samples of "Nasacort" my doctor gave me (for up my nose). I wonder if that would be helpful, also? And I'll definitely try to Claritin. Thank you so much!

[lost-in-nj]

4. I am lucky

I only have to pay $25 for my perscriptions...
They got you coming and going...
the sad part is it probably cost them $1.50 to make each pill


lost

[Crazy Dave]

6. There's got to be a little bit of a mark-up for...

...research and lawsuits but I guarantee it's pennies on the dollar compared to what they pay their executive's, their shareholders and the politicians.

[TZ]

11. Actually its VERY costly to make meds

Its not automated much and there is ALOT of complicated regulations (GMP- Good Manufacturing Practices) plus a lot of it has to be done in sterile conditions/clean rooms. The labor involved in that kind of manufacturing is highly skilled and highly paid. I would bet you that the cost to make a $10.10 pill is more like 5-6 dollars or more.
Drug manufacture and research is VERY costly..
Although I do agree that the upper management makes some nice salaries, but compared to other industries, overall the salaries in the lower echelons are higher and therefore add more to the cost

[lame54]

23. BULL

Most of the meds my son was on for over ten years (in the 90's) we first manufactured in the 50's so research cost had long been recouped but the price didn't go down but up each year. The majority of new drugs coming out now, are either feel good drugs or me too drugs. There is no money in real cures.
patty lame's wife

[GOPisEvil]

12. In 2008, I'll be paying more for health insurance and getting less coverage.

So, yes, our system sucks ass.

At least our premiums for dental and vision aren't going up.

[BarenakedLady]

16. I pay $115 for 30 day supply of Effexor

There is no generic brand unfortunately. Our insurance is changing Dec. 1st thank goodness.

[Kajsa]

18. After watching 'Sicko' last night

I agree wholeheartedly!

Hell, I felt this way before 'Sicko' was an
idea in Michael's head.

We are getting gouged, bigtime!!

That's a big reason why many head south to Mexico
to buy prescription drugs at a huge discount.

I need to go there soon.

My Celebrex isn't covered, anymore.

;(

[Mojorabbit]

19. I wish I had known

I threw a bunch of samples my hubby brought home away last week as it does not work for me. I use maxault.

[mwooldri]

21. I'm fearful for next year with my prescription meds.

Right now my health insurance will pay out $50 for a 90 day supply of the medicines I take - and I have two prescriptions - so $100 every 90 days. There's no deductibles, just co-pays.

Next year, the health insurance plans through my work change. I will have a deductible to meet for all my medical bills and it includes my prescription medications. I have to have $2200 in medical bills before the health insurance plan pays for anything, and then pays at 90% until I have $3,200 out of pocket. The good thing is the company I work for is paying $1000 of that deductible. However it means instead of being faced with a drug bill of $600 I will have to pay $2200 for the same thing. One of my medications for a 90 day supply without insurance is $900 and the other one is about $500. I'm going to meet my deductible pretty much in the first refill of our medicines.

I just wish I could be back on the UK National Health Service. Medicines cost #6.85 a shot (about $15) and a year's certificate for unlimited prescriptions costs #98-ish (about $200). Children's prescriptions would be free so our drug costs would be covered in the UK for a hundred quid easily.

Mark.

[lame54]

22. It has sucked since Nixon and Regan

That's what de-regulation did for us. In the early 90's I paid over a thousand a month for one med for my son without insurance about 60 with insurance and he was on over 10 different meds. I was advocating for a one pay-or system then and still am.
patty lame's wife

[flamingyouth]

24. I spent over $600 last time I was at the pharmacy.

Don't. Get. Me. Started. On the system.

Gah. :grr:

[SarahB]

31. I'm so lucky.

I just have the occasional migraine, allergies, and extremely mild asthma. It must be terribly difficult with an acute or chronic condition that you're trying to live with. :hug:

[gmoney]

25. mine are about $260/month

I think my "insurance" knocks about $20 off

[Wapsie B]

26. That is outrageous!

The markup on medications in this country for just advertising alone is horrible. Just think of all those trinkets the drug companies throw around. And that's the cheap stuff.

[Rowdyboy]

27. Each month I pay about $50 total for two medications that would cost me $1200 without insurance....

Without insurance, I couldn't afford to eat.

[GirlinContempt]

29. It seems so crazy

that you in the US pay more than we do in Canada for the same drugs. I mean, I know the reasons, but it just seems so wrong.

I'm really fortunate that I have extended health that pays 80% of my drug costs, even with our lower prices, because I'm taking quite a few things.

[NewJeffCT]

30. We have pretty good prescription coverage

Through my wife's work - I think our copay is like $15 or $20 max, and less if they can use a generic.

But, you're correct on our healthcare system sucking.