this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2024
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[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago

High drug prices are the result of monopoly capital. There are actually very few pharmaceutical companies. They have dominant control over the industry and careers for relevant STEM majors and applying university research. They charge exorbitant prices through market domination and the US government gladly support this, as it is largely just a proxy for business interests. The temporary monopoly of IP is protected at all costs (it was even used to weaponize COVID vaccine access!).

However, this is not something that will be solved by simply asking politicians to regulate the market. Monopolization is a core outcome of capitalism, it increases the overall volume of profit that a company can make and therefore destroy the competition. And capture of the political system the default, it's an expression of the dominant economic forces. Both parties are capitalist and do the bidding of their business factions, often the same factions at the same time. Expecting a capitalist politician to act against the interests of their donors, their party, and the complicit media apparatus that keeps them in their position is absurd.

Instead, you will only see some PR attempts at the margins, like specifically capping the price of insulin. Access to insulin without impoverishing yourself is of course a dramatically good thing, but it is also a drop in the bucket compared to the overall grift that will remain firmly in place.

A question to ask yourself is: if I cannot reasonably expect capitalist politicians to address this and it's a core feature of the economic system, what should I do instead?

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's called GoodRX. Always check it. At least Walgreen's is bound by the prices on there, I'm sure most other pharmacies are as well.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Alright, you didn't ask for any of this, but I have some thoughts about GoodRX.

GoodRX is an ok stop-gap to get people medications they need, but it's still not great. They set their prices based on agreements with PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers), which are the companies that actually provide prescription insurance benefits if you're commercially insured (not your insurance company). Actually, on the computer side, there's no difference between GoodRX and insurance, they are used the same way. The GoodRX coupon has the same numbers on it that a commercial insurance card would have (ID number, BIN, PCN, group number) and a "claim" gets submitted the same way it would be submitted to your insurance company (which is actually the PBM, not your insurance company). The pharmacy has to pay the PBM to process the claim (which is kinda BS, right?) regardless of if the patient is using insurance OR GoodRX, so a lot of local/independent pharmacies can't or won't take GoodRX because they end up actually taking a loss on dispensing the drug due to PBM fees.

I am a pharmacy technician that used to work in outpatient pharmacy; I've helped a lot of people save money with GoodRX, but I usually try to find literally anything else I can do to lower the price first. Prescription billing in the US is absolutely FUBAR.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Used to contract with a PBM and saw how the sausage is made. It's not pretty people.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (7 children)

I've never wanted to be American. But I'm glad I'm not American. I live in a totally shit country with a crap corrupt government, but everyday I am thankful, because, at least I don't live in the US. Sadly I don't live in the "best country in the world".

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago

Can’t.

I’ve had literally insane run-ins with the US healthcare system, and have a bad enough health issue that I’ve been absolutely ruined by it: physically, mentally, financially, and socially. I do mean utterly – that was not hyperbole.

I have nothing else to add right now, because I have medically-induced PTSD and can’t even think about anything medical without having a panic attack now.

Just wanted to chime in with how bad it can get, and I know my situation isn’t as bad as it can be. It ruined everything for me and destroyed my family, but I never had to care for a dying child. There are no forbidden depths.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Its a con. Its not called that but in reality with all the convoluted rules and payment streams its simply a con. This is the only country on earth that allows this level of corruption.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (5 children)

If you can make your own way to Northern Africa you should be able to barter your way onto a people smugglers boat across to Europe. It’s a risky crossing but many make it for the hope of better work and healthcare prospects.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

Always ask your pharmacist is what the out-of-pocket price is. Sometimes it's cheaper than your insurance copay.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

South Park, very relevant and funny to a scary point...

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

It's called "extortion."

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

I 100% get my prescriptions without insurance and just use the local pharmacy discount rate they offer. My insurance is employer provided aimed at people who make a lot more money than the employer actually pays. Such is US healthcare

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

I take a med that's $40/month after insurance which isn't that bad for such a specific medication, but the discount card from the manufacturer cuts it down to $5/month.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

The reason all this bullshit exists is because the insurance companies CEOs seem to be heavily invested in PBMs. Companies aren't actually paying their full copay in many places - they have PBMs that basically get a coupon back from the pharma companies effectively meaning PBM's and Pharma corps are teaming up to rob you while the insurance company looks the other way.

  1. pharmacy companies shouldn't be able to charge insurance different rates nor should coupons be allowed. Pharmaceuticals should have 1 listed price all payers pay similar to french laws.

  2. copays for pharmaceuticals need to be capped at like 50% of pill manufacturing cost not the final sale price. Insurance companies need to be incentivized to bring prices down by paying more for marked up items.

  3. Fuck insurance companies. They need to die.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago
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