We Pay a Lot for Meds
When compared to other countries, we pay a heck of a lot more money for them. An article that first appeared in the WSJ is linked here and compares our Medicare system to Norway and other counties. Why this disparity exists isn’t simple, though.
The reasons the U.S. pays more are rooted in philosophical and practical differences in the way its health system provides benefits, in the drug industry’s political clout and in many Americans’ deep aversion to the notion of rationing.
Americans are different. They get crazy about the term “rationing” so we fight against it. The funny thing is that it does nothing for the people doing the fighting. It may get the government to being open to giving granny a new cancer drug to extend her life a week but the insurance companies don’t give a crap. They can just say no to anything and they do all the time. They ration everyday. I have already mentioned this about my son being denied ALL medications for his ulcerative colitis.
Yes, our country is paying too much for medications but the insurance companies have this system all figured out. Again. I am sure they are getting great deals on drugs and they dole them out sparingly. Too bad this article doesn’t mention this.
in Australia. a free trade agreement with the USA means that pharma companies (registered in the Bahamas or Puerto Rico) can sue the Australian Public Benefits scheme for lost profits…. So don’t worry – the rest of the world is following you…
Or you can do like most underinsured Americans buy it from Canada or even India…. Esomperazole 40mg x 400 USD $100 (including postage)
Doug
You don’t always need expensive meds from the govt-insurer-pharma special interest cartel to treat ulcerative colitis.
Go Autoimmune Paleo, gluten free, with fish oils and get some low dose naltrexone (LDN) compounded as well. Then tell the cartel to stick it.
hey, the insurance executives need to eat caviar too, don’t they? and, the corporate swine have us hopping on one foot and then the other while they steal away to the bank. rationing indeed…
-p