tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post7842035153248061718..comments2023-10-28T07:53:47.692-05:00Comments on Living-With-MS: Copaxone Price ShockBlinders Offhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03109286529955936165noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-23853734566545545982010-01-04T01:44:03.176-06:002010-01-04T01:44:03.176-06:00@finefroghair,
Thanks to you for finding your way...@finefroghair,<br /><br />Thanks to you for finding your way to comment at Fields with your poems and thanks for stopping by. My blinders been off for a long time when it comes to our government. <br /><br />@BD,<br /><br />I know I will be waiting for eternity :). To me it is the principle of the matter, I refuse to continue purchasing my prescriptions from Walgreens now that I know what they are up to. I thinking about forwarding this post to MSNBC to do an investigative report on large and small retail pharmacies.<br /><br />@Diane,<br /><br />I talked about how the Dems are spineless and we are in bigger trouble if the Repub's gain control in 2010 over at BD's site. <br /><br />We need more Independent politicians who are really for the PEOPLE. It would be nice to get rid of every last incumbent Repub and Dem because they are all bought off and do not give two rat cents about the people and saving this country.Blinders Offhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03109286529955936165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-25403272019416638942010-01-03T20:28:54.390-06:002010-01-03T20:28:54.390-06:00OMG, I just switched to Walgreens, and just starte...OMG, I just switched to Walgreens, and just started a new Ins Co. Essence, it is all so confusing (and meant to be so) to me that I give up. I'll fight the bridge when I get dumped by it. You said it: THIS IS the problem and NOBODY is watching the hen house. And YES WE WILL pay for it. Commenters all correct---Dems caved. $%^&*()Diane J Standifordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862850657925658079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-44580016556305655672010-01-03T16:27:55.185-06:002010-01-03T16:27:55.185-06:00You'll be waiting a long time for that "T...You'll be waiting a long time for that "Thank You."<br /><br />Big Pharma, like health insurers, are going to play the system for all it's worth, because they get to write the rules, and officiate the game.<br /><br />In recent weeks the<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/15/doughnuts-for-dorgan-drug_n_393527.html" rel="nofollow"> Dems had a chance to rectify years of Big Phama excesses</a>, greed, and the gouging of Americans. <br /><br />They folded, saying that pharmaceuticals purchased from foreign sources may not come up to our industry standards.<br /><br />Bull! <br /><br />This, too, can be regulated. Further, like health insurers, Big Pharma should be reformed as well.<br /><br />Sadly, we'd have as big a fight on hand with that as with health care reform.Black Diasporahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08890792781361839105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-17073677190123633192010-01-01T19:56:58.260-06:002010-01-01T19:56:58.260-06:00Thanks for acknowledging my poem over at field neg...Thanks for acknowledging my poem over at field negros blog what an eye opener the price comparisons between the two pharmacies. what's up with insurance companies paying twice as much at one pharmacy over another don't they compare prices. This just proves the whole rotten edifice of health care in this country is a sham. We voted for change but all I see is the same game played by new players. This health care debate really sucks and would seem entirely unneeded doesn't everyone need health care you can't even be born without it. This country is really depressing<br />my brother married a women from England while he was there he got an ear infection went to the doctor and got a prescription cost like $9.00 meanwhile when her daughter was visiting from England she developed a upper respiratory infection went to the doctor cost her $500 dollars x-rays, drugs office call etc.. Ruined her vacation and embarrassed me to no end how can people in this country think we are great when this example clearly shows that America is a failure. I have heard it said that people from Canada are scared to travel to the US because of our health care system the lies that are told to Americans about foreign health systems are utterly despicable but than again all the lies we are told are pathetic. Keep those blinders off and your eyes wide open that is the only way to live.finefroghairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14259359593329028201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-22596825918468596822009-12-31T20:16:15.319-06:002009-12-31T20:16:15.319-06:00@Lisa,
Looking forward to reading the article.
@...@Lisa,<br /><br />Looking forward to reading the article.<br /><br />@Loveable Homebody,<br /><br />Some doctors are arrogant, but I am fortunate and have a wonderful neuro and primary doctor. I tell people all the time you have to shop for a doctor like you shop for the perfect black dress. <br /><br />@Andaje,<br /><br />It nice not to worry about the cost of health care. I use to not worry about my health care out of pocket cost. Unfortunately, I am starting to worry because of the uncertanity of the US Health Care Reform outcome. Wow, you all can get free <strong>FREE</strong> medicine at the hospital...that will never happen here.Blinders Offhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03109286529955936165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-15842438725517329792009-12-29T02:54:16.929-06:002009-12-29T02:54:16.929-06:00Wow - I could not imagine the stress of having to ...Wow - I could not imagine the stress of having to go to Pharmacist and pay for the required MS medicine.. always thinking about prices, insurance coverage etc.<br /><br />I am fortunate enough to live in a EEC country, where there are rules and laws regarding MS medicine - no country within the EEC can refuse me my medicine, and I get it for free at the hospital.<br /><br />Neither Copaxone nor Avonex worked for me, so now I am on the Tysabri - and yes we have HIGH income taxes, but I know that in return I get my medicine without having to worry about prices etc.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15386044565830996956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-29684502906203210352009-12-28T23:21:53.779-06:002009-12-28T23:21:53.779-06:00Thank you so much for posting that bit about knowi...Thank you so much for posting that bit about knowing your body more than anyone. Doctors can be so arrogant. Your comfort isn't necessarily their priority.Ashley Ashbeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05268928207063175136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399606123599003743.post-17484401361070747272009-12-28T22:30:22.291-06:002009-12-28T22:30:22.291-06:00I am laughing and crying at this concurrently. Cr...I am laughing and crying at this concurrently. Crying because so many people don't care (if their copay is low like yours) and crying because the insurance companies who are supposedly keeping costs down by negotiating AREN'T.<br /><br />Laughing because the following is what I posted on my Facebook profile today: <br /><br />Excuse me Virginia Hospital Center, but a bill which simply says "Hospital charges = $17,784; Carefirst payment = $10,477; Carefirst discount = $6,224; Balance due = $1,083" - isn't good enough. Need detailed bill for prescription assistance program to pay you for my out-of-pocket copay requirement. Even my neuro's office provides a detailed bill, down to the IV tubing and saline, when I get Solumedrol.<br /><br />And BTW, how the hell do you get off billing $17,784 for ONE Rituxan infusion, really?!! And Carefirst, you quoted me an 'allowed rate' of less than $6K for the Rituxan vials alone (arguably the most expensive part of the outpatient infusion). What happened?!! Too late in day to traipse up to hospital billing office. Maybe tomorrow.<br /><br />(and added a bit later)<br />OK, I'm a bit cooler now. I knew this amount was coming, just waiting for the official bill to know how it broke down. What I had been told was going to cost abt $5600-5700 for the Rituxan alone, is part of the $9818 called "prescription drug services" approved by Carefirst (as seen on their website). This does not show up on my hospital bill.<br /><br />I'm afraid that this is probably correct and that somehow the steroids (two doses), benadryl (oral and IV), tylenol (oral), saline, Rituxan, and pharmacist services to mix and deliver the above is the reason for the $9818. It disheartens me that the amount Carefirst ends up approving for "prescription drug services" is $4K greater than I expected. I need a detailed bill from the hospital.<br /><br />I'm really fortunate here, however. Unlike my regular drug coverage (capped at $1500 annually), I am covered 90% for hospital/IV drug/even PT costs. That's a blessing.<br /><br />At this rate, Rituxan will cost the healthcare system $46,000 (4 infusions each year) for me alone....and Copaxone now lists for $33,000 each year (for which I must maintain an income below 200% FPL to receive from NORD). Somehow I can't in good conscience do both, even if my neuro ends up wanting me to.<br /><br />The infusions will end up costing ME less than a copay for a series of MRIs. But it still doesn't make me happy that so much money is being shuffled around on paper for this.<br /><br />Right now, I just need proof of what 10% of Rituxan costs so that the drug company will pay the hospital on my behalf. Then I must repeat the process when the 2nd infusion is finally settled between hospital/Carefirst.<br /><br />(this will become an article or blogpost when I know more)Lisa Emrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.com