Drug Price increases...Insanity and Inhumane

Should the federal government intervene somehow? They can't tell companies not to increase prices or the companies with quit making the drugs for Americans. Perhaps the Federal Government Can subsidize the medications so that people do not have to pay so much. We are a very wealthy country after all.

originally posted by: lakenheath24
a reply to: toysforadults


Insurance is a forced scam, much like Obamacare. Therefore they can do whatever they can legally discriminate.
Individuals should be able to buy in at the same price.

Universities get billions in grants for research, from taxpayers, who then pay out the arse for meds. Mental. The Vox article tells why.

This, right here, is important to note.

A forced scam.
one hundred percent accurate.

Insurance, at its core, is a scam. The idea is that the company bets that you, as the consumer, can't budget money. So, instead of figuring your healthcare costs into your budget, you let them do it for you. You pay them X, they pay out X minus their take.
They're wagering that they won't have to pay out more than you put in.

At first, that's fine- most people won't buy into that stupid scam because they know its a stupid scam.
Once you get over 35, maybe 40% of the population buying into it, though, something happens.

The industry realizes that they can double their prices. Overnight. Those with insurance are still covered, but their premiums will go up. Those without are suddenly left in a spot where they have to plan for potentially doubled cost of healthcare. Or auto care. Home care. Whichever flavor of this scam you're looking at.

So, that pushes more people to jump on the insurance wagon. Sooner or later you get a whole generation of people who consider it to be mandatory.
Then obamacare comes along and makes it so.

Now, instead of having to budget out your expected costs to pay a reasonable amount for a service, you're forced to pay into this no-win game where the system charges whatever they want, insurance pays out whatever they feel like, and you get stuck with the ridiculous bill.

Insurance, in short, is a scam- it should be outlawed, not required.
Mortgage insurance.
Health insurance.
Rental insurance.
Home insurance.
Life insurance.

All criminal, IMO- and they lead to the sort of nonsense OP is posting. They could never get away with charging those prices if insurance wasn't "paying for" most of them.

a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

Yes it is.

But its another service provided by the NHS that is under threat.

Diabetes care costs in the UK are huge and considering the scale of the problem there is a remarkable amount of ignorance regarding the illness.
Unless treated and monitored properly Diabetes can be incredibly invasive and debilitating.
There should be a massive campaign aimed at raising general awareness of the causes of Diabetes, especially Type II, and the major health problems people who get the illness suffer.
It is a life changing and threatening disorder.

As with most things, education is the key!

I do...my peeps were talking bout family members back in the US....Thank god i have TRICARE. I use the US military hospitals in the UK. In fact....gotta have knee surgery soon.
a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

originally posted by: lordcomac

originally posted by: lakenheath24
a reply to: toysforadults


Insurance is a forced scam, much like Obamacare. Therefore they can do whatever they can legally discriminate.
Individuals should be able to buy in at the same price.

Universities get billions in grants for research, from taxpayers, who then pay out the arse for meds. Mental. The Vox article tells why.

This, right here, is important to note.

A forced scam.
one hundred percent accurate.

Insurance, at its core, is a scam. The idea is that the company bets that you, as the consumer, can't budget money. So, instead of figuring your healthcare costs into your budget, you let them do it for you. You pay them X, they pay out X minus their take.
They're wagering that they won't have to pay out more than you put in.

At first, that's fine- most people won't buy into that stupid scam because they know its a stupid scam.
Once you get over 35, maybe 40% of the population buying into it, though, something happens.

The industry realizes that they can double their prices. Overnight. Those with insurance are still covered, but their premiums will go up. Those without are suddenly left in a spot where they have to plan for potentially doubled cost of healthcare. Or auto care. Home care. Whichever flavor of this scam you're looking at.

So, that pushes more people to jump on the insurance wagon. Sooner or later you get a whole generation of people who consider it to be mandatory.
Then obamacare comes along and makes it so.

Now, instead of having to budget out your expected costs to pay a reasonable amount for a service, you're forced to pay into this no-win game where the system charges whatever they want, insurance pays out whatever they feel like, and you get stuck with the ridiculous bill.

Insurance, in short, is a scam- it should be outlawed, not required.
Mortgage insurance.
Health insurance.
Rental insurance.
Home insurance.
Life insurance.

All criminal, IMO- and they lead to the sort of nonsense OP is posting. They could never get away with charging those prices if insurance wasn't "paying for" most of them.

You don't understand how insurance works...

health insurance has some issues (mainly because it is over regulated and tied to employers) but home insurance, life insurance, car insurance which ironically are not near as regulated are smart financial products. Health insurance doesn't work well because it has become more of prepaid healthcare plan instead of actual insurance.

Insurance is there to protect you financially in case of an unforeseen circumstance. I carry a several million dollar life insurance policy on myself. I know that if I die unexpectedly, my wife and kids will be well taken care of. It cost me about $2k/yr. Saving $2k/yr uninsured will not ensure my family receives millions in case of my untimely death.

No worries....the isulant patent was sold for $1 bwck in the 30s because the founders wanted to share it with all. The other drugs...not sure...a reply to: SlapMonkey

a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

I've paid hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxes over the years so I don't feel like anyone is doing me a favour, just a fair exchange.

Indeed.

...socialist though, scumbag leech taking advantage of a prescription which still allows me to work and pay taxes

Until someone shows me a better system I'm all for it.....and passionately opposed to any privatisation of the NHS.

The NHS has been serially under-funded by successive governments all with the intent of introducing various forms of privatisation in order to generate profits for an already obscenely wealthy elite at the expense of service to the ordinary British people.

But I'm ranting and for another time and place methinks.

Did you not read the linis? Pharma is heavily subsidized.a reply to: carewemust

a reply to: Freeborn
Agreed, type 2 diabetes is generally bad life choices, but I still support people who are in that mess getting free/reduced prescription fee assistance.
My drug is for some random as yet unknown passing out disorder and every week I pay taxes through being able to work because of the drugs they give me I actually produce a net income to the NHS/government.
My taxes are greater than the cost of a private charge being prescribed the drug.
Fat people should stop eating # food then their type 2 disorder will be cured.

The problem with health insurance and medical care is:

1) Lack of transparency in pricing

2) The consumer is decoupled from the purchase decision.

I was actually going to do a thread on this as I just got a medical bill. I have a CPAP machine and have to get replenishment supplies for it every month or so. Anyway, I just happened to look at my bill and I am responsible for about $50.00. However, when I was looking at the itemized costs, it added up to about $600 that insurance paid for the various parts.

Anyway, the prices seemed really high and I started digging around and sure enough, on Amazon I can easily order all these parts for half or 3/4's less than what insurance was being charged. For example, I can get entire pack of air filters for about $16.00 yet, I only get ONE filter for $16.00 through the insurance provider! WTF?

If we wanted prices lower, what would need to happen is that I as the consumer should be doing the shopping so I can find the lowest price and then I get reimbursed by insurance.

originally posted by: lakenheath24
I do...my peeps were talking bout family members back in the US....Thank god i have TRICARE. I use the US military hospitals in the UK. In fact....gotta have knee surgery soon.
a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

You seem like a settled person in the UK as far as everything I've read so I'd support your claim to NHS treatment if you need it.
It's health tourists I don't support. If you have a British partner and have served here or whatever then I support you having the same rights as me.

For the US....give peeps the same as Congress gets. If not...cancel their insurance when they leave.
a reply to: Freeborn

I dont. My income is from stateside so I dont pay uk income tax. I pay all the other taxes but dont feel entitled to your NHS. IT Would be disengenuous and go against what i feel about medical tourists in your country.
a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

a reply to: lakenheath24

Why not?

I'm not intending to take the moral high ground.

I know that despite many similarities there are enough differences between our two relative societies that comparing them is apples and pears and what works in one won't necessarily work in the other.

But the disparity in health care between the wealthy and the relative poor in the USA is truly shocking.

But if you guys are happy with it, who are we to criticise?

a reply to: lakenheath24
Fair play to you mate.
I totally understand that, but speaking as a Brit, I'm pleased to know that if you get knocked down by a car here, or whatever, my taxes will pay for your treatment with no questions about your insurance status...you may get some big bill but you won't go to jail if you can't pay it.
I think that is the sign of a civilised nation, and as a tax payer I support it.

O thanks man! You better not have jinxed me!!!!!






a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
A few years back the price for EpiPens shot up 500%. This is a drug that has been on the market for decades and is used by millions. The only thing that had changed?

With the EpiPen you are paying for the delivery system. I have allergies that under certain circumstances would require me to need the medication delivered by an EpiPen. I don't have an EpiPen. I have a syringe loaded with the correct dose of epinephrine in a container. I have one at home, at work and in the car. I have to throw them away after a certain time. The medication costs about $6 and the syringes are 50 for about $15.

a reply to: lakenheath24
LMAO! Look right, then left, then right again...you'll be fine haha
...we have loads of foreign students knocked over in my parts every summer lol

a reply to: lakenheath24

It’s fricken criminal.
Thankfully insurance is affordable in Canada.
Mine covers 80% up till $500. Once I’ve paid for $500 out of pocket within a year period, my prescriptions are free for the remainder of that calander year.
I pick up a prescription every 2 weeks. And I pay $15.50 out of pocket after my insurance covers the 80%.

a reply to: Macenroe82
Mine is £8.80 per month for a drug which enables me to work and pay taxes which are in excess of the private charge for the drug each month.
'Socialist' healthcare in my situation is actually a net benefit to the state. Without the drug I would not be able to work and pay more than the drug costs in tax.