• Update – 12:30 PM EST
    Attachments are now working, and all members can once again upload files.
    We are currently testing URL redirects and other miscellaneous features across the site.
    Thank you for your continued patience and support during this migration.

    Prefer a darker look? You can switch between light and dark modes in your account settings:
    smith-wessonforum.com/account/preferences

The nonsense of precription medicine costs

LVSteve

LVSteve

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2005
Messages
22,384
Reaction score
33,825
Location
Lost Wages, NV
Went to the pharmacy to pick up my generic Lipitor. Due to job changes, we are on a new insurance that started 2/1. Our insurance cards have not come yet, but I did have some magic customer number. Not so magic as it appeared CVS cannot look it up on their system, they need the card. Guy showed me the cost of my 90 day supply, $138.:eek: Then he goes away and comes back with some discount plan, ~$25.:confused::confused: So I asked him what it would be with my insurance. He shrugged and said, "Oh, about $5". :eek::confused::eek::confused:

I'm sorry, but the bovine excrement involved in prescription charges has gone from hip deep to requiring a bathysphere. A 27:1 difference in "cost" due to who pays is utter nonsense.

Cards should arrive next week, so that's when I'll get my stuff.
 
LVSteve said:
Went to the pharmacy to pick up my generic Lipitor. Due to job changes, we are on a new insurance that started 2/1. Our insurance cards have not come yet, but I did have some magic customer number. Not so magic as it appeared CVS cannot look it up on their system, they need the card. Guy showed me the cost of my 90 day supply, $138.:eek: Then he goes away and comes back with some discount plan, ~$25.:confused::confused: So I asked him what it would be with my insurance. He shrugged and said, "Oh, about $5". :eek::confused::eek::confused:

I'm sorry, but the bovine excrement involved in prescription charges has gone from hip deep to requiring a bathysphere. A 27:1 difference in "cost" due to who pays is utter nonsense.

Cards should arrive next week, so that's when I'll get my stuff.
Click to expand...

Over the course of time we have had some pharmacy problems. We just got the pharmacy to call the health insurer. What you got to lose. My plan office is open on Saturday.
 
LVSteve said:
....A 27:1 difference in "cost" due to who pays is utter nonsense...
Click to expand...

I've been dealing with a serious medical issue since last summer, one that has required a slew of medications and several brief hospital stays.

When my doctor's secretary gave me the prescriptions for my new meds, one of them came with two manufacturer's coupons. The first month's supply is free. The next year's monthly refills are $10 each. The cost without the coupons is something like $1200 per month without insurance, and $250 per month with insurance.

That's just obscene...these drug companies give capitalism a bad name.
 
Let's hope we don't have any "supply chain" issues with them.
 
LVSteve said:
Went to the pharmacy to pick up my generic Lipitor. Due to job changes, we are on a new insurance that started 2/1. Our insurance cards have not come yet, but I did have some magic customer number. Not so magic as it appeared CVS cannot look it up on their system, they need the card. Guy showed me the cost of my 90 day supply, $138.:eek: Then he goes away and comes back with some discount plan, ~$25.:confused::confused: So I asked him what it would be with my insurance. He shrugged and said, "Oh, about $5". :eek::confused::eek::confused:

I'm sorry, but the bovine excrement involved in prescription charges has gone from hip deep to requiring a bathysphere. A 27:1 difference in "cost" due to who pays is utter nonsense.

Cards should arrive next week, so that's when I'll get my stuff.
Click to expand...

My new insurance started on Jan 1st od 2024.
I received my Rx card on the 14th and my med card on the 26th.

My calls on the 1st of the month got me a new Dr's appointment on Feb 5th, due to being stacked up.

You got to love it, starting with a new provider, these days.
 
The United States is one of only a handful of countries that DOES NOT have price caps on prescription medicines. Those multi-billion dollar profits the drug companies make every year come primarily from the U.S. :mad:
This is never going to change as long as big pharma owns the U.S. Congress. :mad:
 
Wife and I are on a bunch of meds as most 80 year olds are. But there were changes to our insurance and I have still not found out why. I had been taking Elequist but the price increased by over $600 monthly. So I just quit taking it. That was over a year ago and I have had no problems. The Doctor didn't like that but I did not like the idea of the medical pharma companys making all their money from me. David
 
Captain Hornet said:
Wife and I are on a bunch of meds as most 80 year olds are. But there were changes to our insurance and I have still not found out why. I had been taking Elequist but the price increased by over $600 monthly. So I just quit taking it. That was over a year ago and I have had no problems. The Doctor didn't like that but I did not like the idea of the medical pharma companys making all their money from me. David
Click to expand...

I understand your frustration, but Eliquis is a blood thinner used to prevent strokes. Your doctor wouldn't prescribe it if you didn't need it. I hope you were able to substitute another drug for it...
 
When I get my statement from the pharmacy for taxes, it’s shocking how much some of these drugs would have been for people that don’t have insurance.
 
I take 11 prescribed meds per day. Between Medicare and Aetna I pay very little and am grateful.

I used to take Xarelto and there was no generic version so when I hit the yearly "donut" my wallet felt it. I switched back to Warfarin.
 
Several years ago while sitting in a waiting room, I picked up a medical magazine written by and intended for doctors. In it was an article by a Professor of Pharmacology at one of the more prestigious medical schools. Sorry, but I don't remember the details.
The whole point of the article was to point out that the pharmaceutical companies spend about five times the budget on advertising than they do research. :mad:
 
Grayfox said:
pharmaceutical companies spend about five times the budget on advertising than they do research. :mad:
Click to expand...

Maybe they could stop marketing to the general public.

"Ask your doctor is Ozokopoclo is right for you!" I would hope that my doctor would tell me if I need Ozokopoclo.

"Do not take Ozokopoclo if you are allergic to Ozokopoclo. Ozokopoclo may cause death."
 
Yaworski said:
Maybe they could stop marketing to the general public.

"Ask your doctor is Ozokopoclo is right for you!" I would hope that my doctor would tell me if I need Ozokopoclo.

"Do not take Ozokopoclo if you are allergic to Ozokopoclo. Ozokopoclo may cause death."
Click to expand...

I think one of the biggest dangers of new drugs is that the book listing all the possible side effects may land on your head.
 
Yaworski said:
Those other countries have socialized health care...
Click to expand...
Guilty as charged (here in Canada)

I'm on min. doses of 4 prescription meds: Ramipril (ACE inhibitor, high BP), Amlodopine (also for HPB), Rosuvastatin (cholesterol) and Hydrochlorothiazine (diuretic). I renew the prescriptions every 4 mos. Last time (October) it cost me $88.11 (about $65 USD).
 
Last edited:
OP I’m guessing the $5 he referred to was your co-pay. Not the amount the insurance company pays. Granted they probably pay less than those with no insurance but not that much less.
 
Muss Muggins said:
Somebody has to pay the drug companies for research and development. It’s akin to the first VCR’s costing $1,500 . . .
Click to expand...

And the drug company only has 7 years to recoup those costs before the patent runs out and the drug goes generic. Plus they have to recoup the costs of all the research that goes into drugs that never come to market. The option of high cost drugs in today's market is to not have any drugs at all.
 
oldbrownhat said:
Guilty as charged (here in Canada)

I'm on min. doses of 4 prescription meds: Ramipril (ACE inhibitor, high BP), Amlodopine (also for HPB), Rosuvastatin (cholesterol) and Hydrochlorothiazine (diuretic). I renew the prescriptions every 4 mos. Last time (October) it cost me $88.11 (about $65 USD).
Click to expand...

I refill every three month for $10 for each of the five drugs I take.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top