Home

Export thread

Prrescription costs-RIPOFF

Apr 12, 2011#1

JDgreen

I just got a new RX earlier this week for a certain medication I am prescribed...have been taking it since about Y2K. I saved the invoice for the RX of the same drug from last May, my co-pay under BC/BS plan was $40 then, and my insurance was billed $2208 for their share of the 180 tablets.

You think that is a lot, right?

Well, one year later I am still paying the $40 co-pay, but my insurance was billed $3092 for their share of the 180 tablets. Same drug, same strength, same comnpany producing it. The price to consumers started creeping up back about 2004, I remember it being about $770 in total for 180 tablets then. What is involved here is pure GREED. The company that holds the patent on the drug I take is steadily jacking up the price because the patent expires next year, and when that happens, generics will be available at a much lower price. It surprises me that the medical coverage firms such as BC/BS permit such price hikes. Seems it should be illegal.

Apr 12, 2011#2

poncho62

I started taking Lipitor last year.......It was a bout $2 a pill......It has gone down quite a bit in the last year....The druggist told me that when a drug is new, its more expensive.....and also, if more people need the drug, it gets mass produced, so that makes it cheaper.......Maybe, your drug is not used by many people, thus more expensive...not fair.....

I know these drug companies are crooks, but thats what my druggist told me

Apr 12, 2011#3

JDgreen

poncho62 said:
I started taking Lipitor last year.......It was a bout $2 a pill......It has gone down quite a bit in the last year....The druggist told me that when a drug is new, its more expensive.....and also, if more people need the drug, it gets mass produced, so that makes it cheaper.......Maybe, your drug is not used by many people, thus more expensive...not fair.....

I know these drug companies are crooks, but thats what my druggist told me

Your druggist is correct...but the pills I take have been produced since 1998 and are used to treat excessive daytine sleepiness, are widely used...it's not like they are a small market. Brand name is Provigil...fromn what I have read online, the pills are used by the armed forces and DEA agents to increase alertness...wonder if Uncle Sam also has to pay the inane markup?

Apr 12, 2011#4

BKBrown

Not a doctor - so take this as advice from someone who was on Statins - after Quad Bypass in 02 I was put on Statins (tried many different ones) -- if it was on the list of side effects, it happened to me. I started loosing strength and got muscle cramps etc. Started taking CoQ-10 and it got better - stopped all the Statins and am back to nearly normal.

Just watch out if you are prescribed Statins.

Apr 12, 2011#5

JDgreen

BKBrown said:
Not a doctor - so take this as advice from someone who was on Statins - after Quad Bypass in 02 I was put on Statins (tried many different ones) -- if it was on the list of side effects, it happened to me. I started loosing strength and got muscle cramps etc. Started taking CoQ-10 and it got better - stopped all the Statins and am back to nearly normal.

Just watch out if you are prescribed Statins.

Thanks BK...and please remember...BIG PRINT for the old guy (ME) :laughing:

Apr 12, 2011#6

BKBrown

JDgreen said:
Thanks BK...and please remember...BIG PRINT for the old guy (ME) :laughing:

Sorry, I forgot - is this better ? :biggrin:

Apr 12, 2011#7

twall

And the philosophers of our day sit with their chin on their fist, asking "Why is the price of health insurance so high?" Seems a question that could be answered by a ten year-old.....

When everybody's done being greedy (from the doctors, to the pharmacudicals, to the health insurance companies, to the employer offering the cheapest crap they can get their mitts on....) it is the paying customer that gets shafted - while everyone else is playing money games. Makes me irate.

Apr 12, 2011#8

JDgreen

twall said:
And the philosophers of our day sit with their chin on their fist, asking "Why is the price of health insurance so high?" Seems a question that could be answered by a ten year-old.....

When everybody's done being greedy (from the doctors, to the pharmacudicals, to the health insurance companies, to the employer offering the cheapest crap they can get their mitts on....) it is the paying customer that gets shafted - while everyone else is playing money games. Makes me irate.

Well expressed...and it makes me more than irate, because I am the resident old grump here.....

Apr 19, 2011#9

Bison

I go to the doctor if i ail something and he gets paid,cause the guy is got to live too right.
Then i go to the pharmasist and get the subscription pills,that guy got to make a living too.
When i get home i chuck the whole pill shebang in the carbage bin. I got to live too you know :wink:

Apr 19, 2011#10

mystreba

I always get a laugh whenever I debate someone on health care problems in the U.S. They will often claim that "America has the best health care in the world!" When you counter this claim, they respond - "when rich people around the world need medical care, they come to the U.S.!" That's when I consider the debate over, since they've pretty much made my argument for me.

By any measure related to delivery of healthcare, we rank at or near the bottom of all developed countries (unless you measure in terms of cost, in which case we are "NUMBER ONE - woo-hoo!!")

In a purely market-driven, fee-for-service system, we have to expect these kinds of issues. Hey, if you're in a situation where you've got a co-pay for your medication, count your blessings.

Apr 19, 2011#11

twall

Here's another facet:

You go to the hospital.

If you have no health insurance, you pay x. If you have insurance, and the deductable is met, they charge an insurance company y, which is usually twice x. Said insurance company will refuse to pay, and haggle the price down to z, which is usually much cheaper than x. Yet, you cannot dispute the price they charge w/o health insurance. WTF?

Sent from my WX445 using LMF

Apr 19, 2011#12

Bison

mystreba said:
I always get a laugh whenever I debate someone on health care problems in the U.S. They will often claim that "America has the best health care in the world!" When you counter this claim, they respond - "when rich people around the world need medical care, they come to the U.S.!" That's when I consider the debate over, since they've pretty much made my argument for me.

By any measure related to delivery of healthcare, we rank at or near the bottom of all developed countries (unless you measure in terms of cost, in which case we are "NUMBER ONE - woo-hoo!!")In a purely market-driven, fee-for-service system, we have to expect these kinds of issues. Hey, if you're in a situation where you've got a co-pay for your medication, count your blessings.

Ain't any different here in Canada.

Granted,the health care is free ,but it is slower than sh!t trough a funnel,by the time between making and going to a doctors appointment you're either dead or 5 yrs older.

The only time you get help fast is when they cart you to ER
If you're still able to walk in,take food for 14 day's and your sleeping bag along.
If one need help fast one needs to go to a private clinic.

Apr 19, 2011#13

twall

Just think, we all agree everything concerning healthcare costs too much.

So, the people blame the RX companies. The RX companies blame the doctors. The doctors blame the [liability] insurance companies. The insurance companies blame the lawyers. The lawyers blame the politicians. The politicians promise to do something about it, so they in turn blame the people and regulate or tax something else.

On and on the endless circle turns round.......

When maybe, just MAYBE - It's a little bit of everyone's fault!!

Apr 19, 2011#14

mystreba

Bison said:
Ain't any different here in Canada.

Granted,the health care is free ,but it is slower than sh!t trough a funnel,by the time between making and going to a doctors appointment you're either dead or 5 yrs older.
The only time you get help fast is when they cart you to ER
If you're still able to walk in,take food for 14 day's and your sleeping bag along.
If one need help fast one needs to go to a private clinic.

No solution is perfect, but ALL Canadians have health care, and at a fraction of the cost of our health care (measured in terms of individual procedures, or in total as % of GDP). I'm curious about your statement that if you need help fast you can go to a private clinic. Can you just go to a private clinic and pay (either out-of-pocket or with supplemental insurance) for a procedure that is COVERED under the national health plan?

ps - Thanks, Tommy Douglas and Saskatchewan, for bringing us Medicare!

Apr 19, 2011#15

173abn

Me being a vet. I get my drugs at the V.A. I take two for a service connection and they are free to me.I take several others that are not service connected and the co-pay is $8.00 a script. as a side note do you all know why the price of gas is going up and up?It's not because there is a shortage but because speculators on wall street are driving up the price.It really ticks me off that our govt. allows this to happen especially when we the taxpayers bailed these crooks out.one day the middle class will cease to exist then watch out....russ

Apr 19, 2011#16

twall

173abn said:
.......one day the middle class will cease to exist then watch out....russ

Really? Look around - it's almost vanished. What do you hear? Blowin in the wind. Just wind blowin in the wind. A tea party protest. Big whoop. A union protest. Yawn. Cairo? Never happen here....we're all to flippin complacent. We'll just continue to take it like we always have. Talk and take it, talk and take it....just a bunch of words without actions. Maybe we'll hold a sign or two, and have a big protest....but what does that do? Nothing. Never see revolution here, no matter how bad it gets.

My two cents on that.

Apr 19, 2011#17

mystreba

173abn said:
one day the middle class will cease to exist then watch out....russ

Based on 2008 data, the bottom 90% of taxpayers in the U.S. have $1.01 for every dollar they had back in 1980 - a 1% increase. The top 1% of tax-payers have almost $4 for every dollar they had back in 1980 - a 300% increase. Income growth is even more hyper-concentrated in the top 1/10 of 1% of taxpayers.

So yeah, cutting taxes for the rich is working out real well for a couple hundred thousand people. Wish I were one of them.

Apr 19, 2011#18

twall

mystreba said:
Based on 2008 data, the bottom 90% of taxpayers in the U.S. have $1.01 for every dollar they had back in 1980 - a 1% increase. The top 1% of tax-payers have almost $4 for every dollar they had back in 1980 - a 300% increase. Income growth is even more hyper-concentrated in the top 1/10 of 1% of taxpayers.

So yeah, cutting taxes for the rich is working out real well for a couple hundred thousand people. Wish I were one of them.

Yeah, and what does $1.01 today buy versus $1 in 1980?

Seems the rich have just kept up with inflation, while the rest of us keep getting poorer. But, we don't notice - because thanks to imports, it doesn't seem like we lost anything. Stuff is still cheap......making it seem like we are doing pretty well - but we aren't. We just aren't. We made a deal with the Devil with the trade agreement with China - our comfort level would rise, but it would slowly but surely eat every American blue collar job in sight.

So Americans don't have to face America's biggest fear......reality.

Apr 19, 2011#19

173abn

well twall,back in 1968 I joined the US Army cause I was going to get drafted anyway.I was trained to be infantry,I then went Airborne and then I went on to Ft.Bragg to become SpecialForces known by laymen as a GreenBeret,I survied Vietnam serving in the 173abn.I reckon uncle sam trained me pretty dang good and the V.C. and N.V.A. gave me a degree in Surviveablity.When the time comes that I'll no longer be able to pay my property taxes or feed my face then watch out.There's more of use out there that are getting pretty fed up with the crooks running or shall I say ruining this country than you might think....russ

Apr 19, 2011#20

twall

173abn said:
well twall,back in 1968 I joined the US Army cause I was going to get drafted anyway.I was trained to be infantry,I then went Airborne and then I went on to Ft.Bragg to become SpecialForces known by laymen as a GreenBeret,I survied Vietnam serving in the 173abn.I reckon uncle sam trained me pretty dang good and the V.C. and N.V.A. gave me a degree in Surviveablity.When the time comes that I'll no longer be able to pay my property taxes or feed my face then watch out.There's more of use out there that are getting pretty fed up with the crooks running or shall I say ruining this country than you might think....russ

We can't wait till it's too late to act. Props to you as a serviceman.....once it tips a certain point, revolt is the only answer.....I don't want it to come to that....but nobody seems to be letting these clowns know who is boss....WE, the citizens, are homeland defense. Defending our freedoms? We need to do a bit more of that here at home.....and it's time. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Sometimes things need to get uncivil to get things done these days.....

Apr 19, 2011#21

Bison

mystreba said:
No solution is perfect, but ALL Canadians have health care, and at a fraction of the cost of our health care (measured in terms of individual procedures, or in total as % of GDP). I'm curious about your statement that if you need help fast you can go to a private clinic. Can you just go to a private clinic and pay (either out-of-pocket or with supplemental insurance) for a procedure that is COVERED under the national health plan? ps - Thanks, Tommy Douglas and Saskatchewan, for bringing us Medicare![/QUOTE

All canadians have health care.Yep,that is if you can find a GOOD family doctor with room for, and wants to take on new clients,most won't cause they have already 50.000 people to take care off)

The Doctors that have room for new patients i would not even let him/her look at my dog .

Try to go see your doctor,average waiting time 3 months,often longer,referal to a specialist another 3 months if you're lucky.Oops, only a short 10 min consultation,( ah what the h3ll,i drove only 600 mls one way to see you):tongue:
Next appointment for some tests 6 months down the road,get call,re scheduled 2 more months
Stick it up yours.
Go find a private clinic and pay yourself before the money goes towards your funeral.
Health care wont pay for it(not all anyway) unless they direct you to a private clinic.

I aint kidding here

Apr 19, 2011#22

twall

Try to see a doctor in the US if you don't have health insurance. ER is it. And they charge you for the pleasure of waiting in the chair BY THE HOUR........(sarcasm.........)

No HI? Just you freakin TRY to get just a checkup! I would wait no longer than you, my friend.......(or no less)....there are no doctors in the US accepting patients on a cash-only basis.

Let's just all die and get this problem over with.

I have no health insurance. As much as you Canuks would like to butt your opinions in our business, I'd rather have freakin SOMETHING than NOTHING. Every debate I hear, there is a Canadian spouting off about how me having something would be the downfall of mankind. The Right loves that blather. But, oddly enough, you have the strength and the health to comment on US national airwaves......odd indeed if you truly ARE in such dire need of medical attention!

You don't like what you have? How'd you like it before? Did you have nothing? If you were a greedy pig, and just wanted more for less, than you are not me. I have nothing now. I have not seen a doctor for a checkup in 20 years. I can't "talk to my doctor" about anything! I go to a clinic for an infection....the doc says he wants to see me again about my blood pressure.......until I telll the floozie at the desk I have no HI.....then all bets are off.......so stop interfering with me getting a little bit of something! It's better than a whole buncha nothin!

Apr 19, 2011#23

mystreba

Bison said:
All canadians have health care.Yep,that is if you can find a GOOD family doctor with room for, and wants to take on new clients,most won't cause they have already 50.000 people to take care off)

The Doctors that have room for new patients i would not even let him/her look at my dog .

Try to go see your doctor,average waiting time 3 months,often longer,referal to a specialist another 3 months if you're lucky.Oops, only a short 10 min consultation,( ah what the h3ll,i drove only 600 mls one way to see you):tongue:
Next appointment for some tests 6 months down the road,get call,re scheduled 2 more months
Stick it up yours.
Go find a private clinic and pay yourself before the money goes towards your funeral.
Health care wont pay for it(not all anyway) unless they direct you to a private clinic.

I aint kidding here

Yeah, I get that you have to wait. We do here also, but maybe not to the extent you are describing. I had a torn meniscus, was in great pain. One week to see the general practitioner. Three months to see a specialist. Six months to schedule the arthroscopic surgery.

But you didn't answer my question. Can Canadians go to a private clinic to pay for procedures that are covered by national health care? I was under the impression that it was forbidden to do that. For example, say you need arthroscopic knee surgery - covered under the national plan. If you don't want to sit on the waiting list, can you just go to a private clinic and pay cash (or use private supplemental insurance) to have the procedure done?

Apr 19, 2011#24

mystreba

twall said:
Try to see a doctor in the US if you don't have health insurance. ER is it. I have no health insurance. ... I have not seen a doctor for a checkup in 20 years. I can't "talk to my doctor" about anything!

This is absolute moral bankruptcy. No one in a developed nation should go without health care. Emergency rooms are not healthcare!

EVERY U.S. citizen should have adequate health care.

Apr 19, 2011#25

twall

"let the poor suffer and die - they can't pay their way anyhow".........is that the kind of mantra we'll live by in the USA? Then get the hell off my back, Govt, since I 'don't matter' anyhow. If health is not a right, NOTHING is. I repeat: NOTHING. Just temporary privilleges that can be yanked away at will by an authoritarian leader........(or several).

Apr 19, 2011#26

twall

mystreba said:
This is absolute moral bankruptcy. No one in a developed nation should go without health care. Emergency rooms are not healthcare!

EVERY U.S. citizen should have adequate health care.

AMEN!!!

As I said above, if health (as far a science can provide it) is not a right, then NOTHING is.

Apr 19, 2011#27

Bison

twall said:
Try to see a doctor in the US if you don't have health insurance. ER is it. And they charge you for the pleasure of waiting in the chair BY THE HOUR........(sarcasm.........)

No HI? Just you freakin TRY to get just a checkup! I would wait no longer than you, my friend.......(or no less)....there are no doctors in the US accepting patients on a cash-only basis.

Let's just all die and get this problem over with.

I have no health insurance. As much as you Canuks would like to butt your opinions in our business, I'd rather have freakin SOMETHING than NOTHING. Every debate I hear, there is a Canadian spouting off about how me having something would be the downfall of mankind. The Right loves that blather. But, oddly enough, you have the strength and the health to comment on US national airwaves......odd indeed if you truly ARE in such dire need of medical attention!

You don't like what you have? How'd you like it before? Did you have nothing? If you were a greedy pig, and just wanted more for less, than you are not me. I have nothing now. I have not seen a doctor for a checkup in 20 years. I can't "talk to my doctor" about anything! I go to a clinic for an infection....the doc says he wants to see me again about my blood pressure.......until I telll the floozie at the desk I have no HI.....then all bets are off.......so stop interfering with me getting a little bit of something! It's better than a whole buncha nothin!

Hey man, don't get your pantys in a knot.
I was poking sarcasme at our own Canadian health care system,not yours.
It don't matter if you pay for it or not if one can't access it.

I have no doctor either,i cant get one.I havn't seen a doc in 30 yrs.
Only my Wife has a Doctor,they have given her the run around for the last 3 years,that was what my post was about.

Apr 20, 2011#28

Bison

mystreba said:
Yeah, I get that you have to wait. We do here also, but maybe not to the extent you are describing. I had a torn meniscus, was in great pain. One week to see the general practitioner. Three months to see a specialist. Six months to schedule the arthroscopic surgery.

But you didn't answer my question. Can Canadians go to a private clinic to pay for procedures that are covered by national health care? I was under the impression that it was forbidden to do that. For example, say you need arthroscopic knee surgery - covered under the national plan. If you don't want to sit on the waiting list, can you just go to a private clinic and pay cash (or use private supplemental insurance) to have the procedure done?

Yes,plenty people that don't want to wait and have the money do it.
I paid a private clinic to do a CSVI scan on my daughter who has MS,our FFed up system refused to do the scan.

Apr 20, 2011#29

Bison

twall said:
AMEN!!!

As I said above, if health (as far a science can provide it) is not a right, then NOTHING is.

Since when should health be a right??
You're either lucky.. or you're not.

Apr 20, 2011#30

mystreba

Bison said:
Since when should health be a right??
You're either lucky.. or you're not.

I tend to agree with you that it's not a right. But I view it more in terms of a moral obligation - in a developed nation, every citizen should have access to health care.

I sympathize with your situation. I've been denied tests as well. Unfortunately no system is perfect - in any economic system, decisions will have to be made. Sometimes they're right, and sometimes they're wrong. That leads to a two-tier situation where those with means go outside the system to get what they want.

We have a three-tiered system. Two-tiers as described above, and a fairly large third tier who have nothing at all.

Apr 20, 2011#31

poncho62

My experience with "free" Canadian health care.....No, its not free, our higher taxes on everything pay for it.....

I am 58 years old, have lived here my whole life.....I have never had a problem seeing my doctor......Longest time it ever took to get an appointment is a week.......This is for just regular check ups and such, so there is no big emergency.......If I had an emergency, its off to the ER or a walk in clinic, which are covered.

I am a pretty healthy guy, so have really never had many medical problems......I do have high blood pressure.........One time, I got stung by a bee and started to feel tightness in my throat, guess I was allergic.....Went to ER and they took me right in...no waiting......There were people in the waiting room with coughs, colds, scraped elbows etc....They seemed pissed when I went on through, but thats what they do...Another time, I had had a minor surgery for carpal tunnel and it started bleeding a bit from the stitches. I waited almost 4 hrs to see a doctor. Sure, I was pissed, but thinking back, not so much......If you are there for some dumb reason, you wait......BTW, this was in a medium sized town near Toronto.

People that live way out in the sticks, if they dont have a regular doctor could have a harder time.......I am finding that out...I moved 100 miles from the city 3 years ago...I still havent found a new doctor taking patients out here. Luckily, there is a small hospital in the town here and waiting times are short......I still go to my regular doctor back in the city for regular checkups etc....we make a day of it, wife and I both make our appointment together.

Biggest complaint about our system is that I think too many people abuse the right....They are at the doctor for any little thing and that bogs down the system. I think if it wasnt for these hypochondriacs, it would be a much better system

Also...Our health care system only covers health care....Drugs, dental and even ambulance rides are not covered...you need separate insurance for that stuff

Apr 20, 2011#32

mystreba

poncho62 said:
My experience with "free" Canadian health care.....No, its not free, our higher taxes on everything pay for it.....

Yeah, that goes without saying. Nothing is free. And you end up paying either way. In our case, we all pay higher premiums because so many people are operating outside the system. That increases our costs in two ways. First, the uninsured go without preventive healthcare, and wind up in emergency rooms when they get sick, and they can't pay. If they're chronically or terminally ill, they're in and out of the ER many times over (until it's over). We all pay for that. Second, we also have many healthy young people who have no healthcare insurance, and therefore don't pay premiums. It's easy to see how this increases costs for those who are in the system. If everybody is in the system, you get the lowest possible cost point.

poncho62 said:
Also...Our health care system only covers health care....Drugs, dental and even ambulance rides are not covered...you need separate insurance for that stuff

Yeah, that was my understanding. We pay extra for dental also - most health plans do not cover dental. And ambulance rides are only covered in certain situations - in other situations you get a bill.

Bottom line. You cover all citizens. Your system costs are about half of ours (per capita). You rank higher in all important health measurements (satisfaction, life expectancy, infant mortality, avoidable mortality, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), disability-adjusted life years (DALY), etc. And you have ZERO personal bankruptcies due to health issues.

Apr 20, 2011#33

poncho62

We have an election going on right now........The one party is accusing the other of wanting to get rid of health care, or at least make it more like the American system......It wont happen, but politicians are what they are, they will say anything to get votes.

Trouble is, we have had this system since 1939, I believe.......we are used to what we have and very few of us want to go to something different.....I think that same fear is in a lot of Americans minds....Change is always scary.

Apr 20, 2011#34

173abn

my boy is 28yrs old.Two yrs ago he had a good job driving a truck,just got his CDL.then a month later he developed heart problems and the doctor pulled his CDL and the company laid him off thus he lost his health insurance.he can't get his heart repaired because no hospital will do it w/o insurance,I buy his heart meds.Our president says everybody is manadated to carry health ins. or else face a fine!my question is how the h--l do you expect a person out of work with no money to buy health insurance and then say there going to be fined for not having it.what B.S.and then there is the problem of all the illegal aliens using ER's for themselfs and their children.I grew up in the 60s and saw what it took to make changes,believe me it can be done but it needs to be done by a whole lot of folks.the times they are a changing...russ

Apr 20, 2011#35

mystreba

173abn said:
my boy is 28yrs old.Two yrs ago he had a good job driving a truck,just got his CDL.then a month later he developed heart problems and the doctor pulled his CDL and the company laid him off thus he lost his health insurance.he can't get his heart repaired because no hospital will do it w/o insurance,I buy his heart meds.Our president says everybody is manadated to carry health ins. or else face a fine!my question is how the h--l do you expect a person out of work with no money to buy health insurance and then say there going to be fined for not having it.

This was the compromise, and it sucks. But one thing needs explaining. Once you demand that insurance carriers cover everyone, you can't allow people not to participate. If you did, then you'd have people signing up for health insurance only when they're sick. So If we're going to have guaranteed issue (everyone is covered and no one is denied), then we must have individual mandate (everyone must participate).

There are better systems, but it's tough to make such a radical switch (a little thing called politics gets in the way). In a single-payer system like Canada's National Health System (basically our Medicare) and England's "Beveridge" system (basically our VA system), it doesn't matter if you're working and paying into the system or not - you're still covered. In a "Bismark" system like Germany, France and Japan have, the government covers you while you're out of work. But if you're working, you have to pay in.

We can send men to the moon, but we can't provide basic health care to people in your son's situation? Especially when you served for all of us? It's just plain wrong.

Apr 20, 2011#36

twall

mystreba said:
This was the compromise, and it sucks........

Boy, you ain't kiddin.....I don't have health insurance because it's too expensive......$800 a month for me and my son, and it don't cover squat. (My woman got a deal at her work @$400/month. Still don't cover squat, but the kid's covered)

I don't not have HI just because it's cool, or the 'in thing to do'. I can't afford it, and I won't be able to afford it any more if they try and make me buy it. It's unconstitutional to force anyone to buy anything. Car insurance is one thing, you can choose to not drive. You don't HAve to have a car. But, unless you're dead, you HAVE to buy HI. Well, they can bill me in fines, and then throw me in the slammer when I refuse to pay them. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS CRAP.

Apr 20, 2011#37

BKBrown

You hit it right on the head when you said unconstitutional !

They could solve most of the problem if they had regulated STUPID law suits. There are so many things in this "Obamacare" that we don't all know about and are NOT related to healthcare ! :thumbdown:

I believe we need to return to strict Constitutional Government as the Founders intended it ! If it is not allowed by The Constitution ---- it should not exist in the realm of government!

Stay out of my business unless what I do is limiting someone elses rights !

Apr 20, 2011#38

twall

Right on, BK...:thumbsup:

Apr 20, 2011#39

K

KennyV

There was only a short chance for any type of actual health care... It was 'Single Payer' it was mentioned briefly and then the lobby $'s covered it up...
It is the only way that you will ever remove the graft from health care... unfortunately those with cash flow interests in the insurance side of things will spend whatever it takes to see that this will never happen... They have to. because with Single Payer there will be NO health care insurance... so when they step up to fight it they are always going to be all in...
All factions of our political structure are fed $ to stop any possibility... KennyV

Apr 20, 2011#40

twall

KennyV said:
There was only a short chance for any type of actual health care... It was 'Single Payer' it was mentioned briefly and then the lobby $'s covered it up...
It is the only way that you will ever remove the graft from health care... unfortunately those with cash flow interests in the insurance side of things will spend whatever it takes to see that this will never happen... They have to. because with Single Payer there will be NO health care insurance... so when they step up to fight it they are always going to be all in...
All factions of our political structure are fed $ to stop any possibility... KennyV

Right on, Kenny..:thumbsup: That's why I'd rather they repeal the whole thing and start over.......I do NOT like the idea of this Obamacare crap.....not one little bit. "We gotta pass it to see what's in it....". What HOOEY!!

Apr 21, 2011#41

mystreba

Yes, the compromise health care law sucks. KennyV had it right about single payer - like Canada. Except that there are better ways to do multi-payer - look at Germany, Japan. Their private health insurance companies operate as not-for-profit entities, their doctors are all private, and the government covers anyone out of work.

But you'll have a hard time getting any sensible approach to healthcare passed in a country where corporations are so important we have to recognize them as people, and bail them out when they screw up!

I'm all for tort reform. Make it happen. But remember that tort has a very useful function in protecting us small guys from fat-cat negligence.

Also, don't spend any time laboring under the misconception that tort reform will solve any of the major problems we have with healthcare - like skyrocketing costs and millions of Americans with no healthcare.

Apr 21, 2011#42

C

cottom

In 2002 I was diagnosed with Stage 4, Terminal, Lung, Throat, and Brain Cancer. Docs said I had at the most six months to live. God said I had 120 years (Genesis 6:3). It's been nine years now, and I am cancer-free. The Docs said I would never be able to talk again. In 2005 I delieved a very spicy sermon from behind the pulpit on of a medium size church, with no microphone! I was told that I would suffer memory loss and such because of the radiation used to kill the unshelled peanut size tumor in my brain. Today I have no more memory problems than any other old man.
As Jesus was being taken to the spot he was beat with Roman cat-o-nine-tail whips putting raw bloody gashes across his back. God said in 1st Peter 2:24 that by His stripes I was (already) healed.
The medical expenses, drugs and all were around Three-Hundred-Fifty-Thousand Dollars. But, I have a Heaven Father who in fact, owns this planet we live on, all the cattle on thousands of hill, all the silver and all the gold. HE said he would meet all my needs according to HIS riches. And he has done so.

Apr 21, 2011#43

173abn

god loves you Cottom,I wish he'd help my son...russ

Apr 21, 2011#44

twall

cottom said:
In 2002 I was diagnosed with Stage 4, Terminal, Lung, Throat, and Brain Cancer. Docs said I had at the most six months to live. God said I had 120 years (Genesis 6:3). It's been nine years now, and I am cancer-free. The Docs said I would never be able to talk again. In 2005 I delieved a very spicy sermon from behind the pulpit on of a medium size church, with no microphone! I was told that I would suffer memory loss and such because of the radiation used to kill the unshelled peanut size tumor in my brain. Today I have no more memory problems than any other old man.
As Jesus was being taken to the spot he was beat with Roman cat-o-nine-tail whips putting raw bloody gashes across his back. God said in 1st Peter 2:24 that by His stripes I was (already) healed.
The medical expenses, drugs and all were around Three-Hundred-Fifty-Thousand Dollars. But, I have a Heaven Father who in fact, owns this planet we live on, all the cattle on thousands of hill, all the silver and all the gold. HE said he would meet all my needs according to HIS riches. And he has done so.

Well, holly-frickin loo-yah. There you have it, guess the debate's over. :biggrin:

Apr 21, 2011#45

K

KennyV

twall said:
Well, holly-frickin loo-yah. There you have it, guess the debate's over. :biggrin:

You are a FUNNY guy... twall...
But alas you are also right. If you have no insurance coverage you are going to be out of luck... and too many are in that exact situation, for various reasons.
The real problem is the general apathy most folks have about UN-insured until it happens to them or someone close to them... Then they realize it can happen to anyone... It is truly a miserable health care system we are all enjoying... :smile:KennyV

Apr 21, 2011#46

mystreba

173abn said:
god loves you Cottom,I wish he'd help my son...russ

I wish he would too. Hey, is it possible for your son to get treatment through the VA if he becomes a dependent enrolled in school full-time (say, community college or some online program)?

Apr 21, 2011#47

173abn

not a chance,they'd proabley laugh me out the door or try to have me committed for delusions.It's "funny how a criminal that gets shot by the owner of a store the dirt bag was trying to rob [happened in Topeka] gets to have his hosp.bill paid for by the good citizens of Topeka and he'll not be held lible to pay for it.At least the owner killed the dirtbags accomplice.both of them gang bangers...russ

Apr 21, 2011#48

K

KennyV

173abn said:
funny how a criminal that gets shot ... gets to have his hosp.bill paid for by the good citizens of Topeka ...

But that is a rather unhandy way to get free health care...
Not to mention not getting much choice of rehab programs....

The shop owner needs to spend a little more time at the range... :smile:KennyV

Apr 21, 2011#49

twall

KennyV said:
...The shop owner needs to spend a little more time at the range... :smile:KennyV

NOW who's the funny man? :laughing:

Apr 28, 2011#50

M

Mark1

I been taking a drug for high blood pressure.My insurance covers it except the co pay.If I buy generic It cost me $5.00 a month. But I cannot take the Generic (causes worse problems) so I have to take the "Brand" that cost me a co pay of $35.00 a month.for 30 pills, Now I have been ordering 100 of the BRAND from Canada for a total of $68.00. with no insurance and it includes shipping. Yes they are REAL and it is LEGAL to purchase for personal use and they do require a prescription. I have been getting them now for several years. (the generic ones are made in India)

Jun 7, 2011#51

JDgreen

JDgreen said:
I just got a new RX earlier this week for a certain medication I am prescribed...have been taking it since about Y2K. I saved the invoice for the RX of the same drug from last May, my co-pay under BC/BS plan was $40 then, and my insurance was billed $2208 for their share of the 180 tablets.

You think that is a lot, right?

Well, one year later I am still paying the $40 co-pay, but my insurance was billed $3092 for their share of the 180 tablets. Same drug, same strength, same comnpany producing it. The price to consumers started creeping up back about 2004, I remember it being about $770 in total for 180 tablets then. What is involved here is pure GREED. The company that holds the patent on the drug I take is steadily jacking up the price because the patent expires next year, and when that happens, generics will be available at a much lower price. It surprises me that the medical coverage firms such as BC/BS permit such price hikes. Seems it should be illegal.

Just an update...here it is less than 60 days later after I posted this thead, and, GET THIS...the RX that cost BC/BS $3092 less than two months ago is now costing them $3614 !!!!! YES, that is NOT A MISPRINT. The price has gone up $522 for 180 tablets, same drug, same dosage, in less than 60 days.

Jun 7, 2011#52

twall

I have the distinct feeling things aren't going to get any better, either....:frown:

Jun 7, 2011#53

JDgreen

twall said:
I have the distinct feeling things aren't going to get any better, either....:frown:

I think I got the next few years planned just right though...in 2 years, 2 months, and 2 weeks, I will hit 62 and be able to draw Social Security and live like a king for a few years, at least until Medicare kicks in and sucks the lifeblood out of my budget. Maybe I will get lucky and kick the bucket before Medicare bleeds me dry....

Jun 7, 2011#54

twall

JDgreen said:
I think I got the next few years planned just right though...in 2 years, 2 months, and 2 weeks, I will hit 62 and be able to draw Social Security and live like a king for a few years, at least until Medicare kicks in and sucks the lifeblood out of my budget. Maybe I will get lucky and kick the bucket before Medicare bleeds me dry....

My mom and dad have to plan their entire budget around Medicare. It just ain't right.

Jun 7, 2011#55

JDgreen

twall said:
My mom and dad have to plan their entire budget around Medicare. It just ain't right.

My in laws are in their early 80's, same situation. It angers me that the USA can p--- away billions of dollars a year in aid to Japan, Haiti, etc. and then we have to deny our own citizens decent health care, as well as other things they are entitled to.

Jun 7, 2011#56

twall

JDgreen said:
My in laws are in their early 80's, same situation. It angers me that the USA can p--- away billions of dollars a year in aid to Japan, Haiti, etc. and then we have to deny our own citizens decent health care, as well as other things they are entitled to.

Ain't that the truth?

Well said!

Jun 15, 2011#57

S

shimonf

Thats why I am selling vitamins and nutrition items. Prevention is better then cure. We treat our bodies like crap. We take care of everything else that we have like our mowers and the house and the kids but we dont take care and do the preventitive maintanence on ourselfs as we should be. I have had a lack of energy and always had issues and at 32 I had a colonoscopy. The more I didnt take care of myself the worse I felt and the more I went to the doc to have them cure me whe I had the answers before me. I am now selling products that are proven to work and are very healthy for you that everyone can take even kids. I have had great results. I used to drink a 12 pack of mountian dew a day just for the energy alone and to keep going. I had stomach problems and with the products I take I am energized and have no stomach issues anymore. I have lost some weight and some inches and am still working on it. The products have been around for 30 years and you cant buy them off the shelf. If you are interested in learning more about the products that are 100 percent gaurenteed (unlike my spelling ) Give me a shout and let me know. I have a few websites I can show you so you can see the products and read all about them. Products speek for themselfs.

Jun 15, 2011#58

K

KennyV

Vitamins & minerals are ok... The food you eat is what your building your body with...

Pop, any kind of pop is NOT something anyone should deliberately ingest... :smile:KennyV

Jun 15, 2011#59

JDgreen

KennyV said:
Vitamins & minerals are ok... The food you eat is what your building your body with...

Pop, any kind of pop is NOT something anyone should deliberately ingest... :smile:KennyV

So many people think diet soda is okay because it has few calories, but they are now saying consuming even diet soda is bad for you. I have had maybe a half dozen cans in the last year, only from fast food places. Never drink it at home.

Jun 16, 2011#60

S

Stevie-Ray

JDgreen said:
Just an update...here it is less than 60 days later after I posted this thead, and, GET THIS...the RX that cost BC/BS $3092 less than two months ago is now costing them $3614 !!!!! YES, that is NOT A MISPRINT. The price has gone up $522 for 180 tablets, same drug, same dosage, in less than 60 days.

Almost sounds to me like you're dealing with Medco. If so, don't believe everything you read. They've been screwing us around for years.

Jun 16, 2011#61

JDgreen

Stevie-Ray said:
Almost sounds to me like you're dealing with Medco. If so, don't believe everything you read. They've been screwing us around for years.

Yes, my prescriptions are supplied thru Medco, and I have no complaint with them. They simply handle distribution.

Home

Export thread

Prrescription costs-RIPOFF

Footer Links 1

Footer Links 2