Drugs for people - cost

[BrangusUSA]

So husband was at endocrinologist this morning and he was prescribed a couple more drugs for glucose, thyroid, etc. Jardiance at $400 per month. Keep in mind he is already on Keytruda at $12,500 per month at Emory - $150,000 per year for that one med. He is taking about 14 meds in all. Not complaining as we are blessed to have good insurance but...what happens to people who dont?

You could hock everything you own and still not afford more than about a year. Never invested much in stocks but I cant help but realize drug companies are making a killing. Also, why do we pay so much more in the USA for drugs?

On the brighter side, I did tell the husband that I had once again managed to screw an insurance company legally as the second dose of his keytruda probably covered every payment to Blue Cross/Blue Shield I ever made.

I am just puzzled at how much longer this can go on...

 

[True Grit Farms]

The drug companies took lessons from the oil companies on how to screw us. I've always wondered how much government "taxpayers money" is used in drug R&D? Screwing the "good" insurance companies is no different than stealing, I sure wouldn't be bragging about it.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

It's all one big cluster...insurance, hospital bills, meds,doctors ,specialist.and the all important consultants..all of em digging around in your pocket...they treat me like a hot potatoe

 

[Bright Raven]

Capitalism! My dear, capitalism. It is the American Way. It ain't honest or honorable but it is the way we roll.

It is not limited to pharmaceuticals. There is not a category of commerce that will not rob you blind if you don't keep your wits. Except the cattle trade, of course. Lol. Actually, a farmer will screw you worse than a drug company.

 

[Bright Raven]

Watch out for Georgia Fisherman and Fence Contractors too.

 

[BrangusUSA]

True Grit, you do realize that a doctor writes those prescriptions for illnesses right? I have done nothing to be accused of stealing. I could have just as easily died without ever making a health insurance claim. Would that have made Blue Cross a thief? No, certainly not. They based all those premiums for all those decades on probabilities/statistics of x number of clients filing x number of $$$ claims. It is the same for life insurance, they base your rates on the probabilities of you aging out without collecting or dropping the policy prior to collecting.
True Grit, you sir owe me an apology.

 

[Bright Raven]

True Grit, you do realize that a doctor writes those prescriptions for illnesses right? I have done nothing to be accused of stealing. I could have just as easily died without ever making a health insurance claim. Would that have made Blue Cross a thief? No, certainly not. They based all those premiums for all those decades on probabilities/statistics of x number of clients filing x number of $$$ claims. It is the same for life insurance, they base your rates on the probabilities of you aging out without collecting or dropping the policy prior to collecting.
True Grit, you sir owe me an apology.

I told you not to trust a Georgia Fisherman!

 

[sstterry]

Are you serious? No Insurance Company is losing money and in fact, their profits are at record highs. They know exactly what they are doing. There is no individual that can "screw" a huge Corporation. Tell the Insurance Companies to release their tax returns ( they are exempt from most laws) and then they can cry foul!

 

[True Grit Farms]

On the brighter side, I did tell the husband that I had once again managed to screw an insurance company legally as the second dose of his keytruda probably covered every payment to Blue Cross/Blue Shield I ever made.

My reading compression isn't very good, just what did you mean by "screw" an insurance company legally?
BrangusUSA are you from Las Vegas?

 

[Bright Raven]

First, insurance companies have an obligation to their share holders to make as much profit as they can. That is capitalism. We should all rejoice in their record profits.

Second, I disagree that individuals cannot fraud large corporations. Especially, insurance companies. In Kentucky there is a huge problem with businesses burning their insured infrastructure when they are underwater. Individuals use the same practice. The last 3 fires in this county were due to arson to collect insurance because the mortgage was more than the value of the home. Happens all the time. I personally knew a man who was a professional at burning property to collect insurance.

 

[True Grit Farms]

Are you serious? No Insurance Company is losing money and in fact, their profits are at record highs. They know exactly what they are doing. There is no individual that can "screw" a huge Corporation. Tell the Insurance Companies to release their tax returns ( they are exempt from most laws) and then they can cry foul!

It's a vicious circle and a ripoff, if you're good with it more power to you. A contractor wrote up a quote up for $250 more than his estimate to replace my AC so it would cover my insurance deductible. He said to tell the insurance company that lighting caused the unit to go out and he put that on the quote. Needless to say I just wrote him a check and slept through the night.

 

[Bright Raven]

Are you serious? No Insurance Company is losing money and in fact, their profits are at record highs. They know exactly what they are doing. There is no individual that can "screw" a huge Corporation. Tell the Insurance Companies to release their tax returns ( they are exempt from most laws) and then they can cry foul!

It's a vicious circle and a ripoff, if you're good with it more power to you. A contractor wrote up a quote up for $250 more than his estimate to replace my AC so it would cover my insurance deductible. He said to tell the insurance company that lighting caused the unit to go out and he put that on the quote. Needless to say I just wrote him a check and slept through the night.

Good for you Vince. Maybe those Georgia Fisherman are the only honest Americans left.

 

[True Grit Farms]

Are you serious? No Insurance Company is losing money and in fact, their profits are at record highs. They know exactly what they are doing. There is no individual that can "screw" a huge Corporation. Tell the Insurance Companies to release their tax returns ( they are exempt from most laws) and then they can cry foul!

It's a vicious circle and a ripoff, if you're good with it more power to you. A contractor wrote up a quote up for $250 more than his estimate to replace my AC so it would cover my insurance deductible. He said to tell the insurance company that lighting caused the unit to go out and he put that on the quote. Needless to say I just wrote him a check and slept through the night.

Good for you Vince. Maybe those Georgia Fisherman are the only honest Americans left.

We both know better so I'm not going to touch that one.

 

[Bright Raven]

Are you serious? No Insurance Company is losing money and in fact, their profits are at record highs. They know exactly what they are doing. There is no individual that can "screw" a huge Corporation. Tell the Insurance Companies to release their tax returns ( they are exempt from most laws) and then they can cry foul!

It's a vicious circle and a ripoff, if you're good with it more power to you. A contractor wrote up a quote up for $250 more than his estimate to replace my AC so it would cover my insurance deductible. He said to tell the insurance company that lighting caused the unit to go out and he put that on the quote. Needless to say I just wrote him a check and slept through the night.

Good for you Vince. Maybe those Georgia Fisherman are the only honest Americans left.

We both know better so I'm not going to touch that one.

Seriously, I may be more socially liberal than you but when it comes to fiscal and economic concepts, I am fiercely conservative. I believe every publicly owned corporation has an obligation to make all the profit possible. I don't consider the pharmaceutical industry as the "evil empire" many do.

 

[BrangusUSA]

Ok, no I am not from Vegas. I was born at Grady Memorial in Atlanta, GA. My husband and adult son just joined the Georgia Cattlemens Association. I remarked that it would be nice to meet some of the Southern gentlemen who have helped us on Cattle Today at the meeting last Thursday.

Again, I paid bi-weekly premiums to Blue Cross for THREE DECADES with a pittance in claims. I mean I would go many years without seeing a doctor until they instituted compliance visits to keep the preferred rate. My husband has the misfortune to need some meds as prescribed by a doctor. I rejoice in legally being able to recoup some of the money I paid in all those years and that equates to stealing?

 

[BrangusUSA]

Kayaked and fished Tallapoosa River last weekend. Above picture was taken today of the Chattahochee River. Hoping to talk husband, brother or son into kayaking and fishing it this weekend. Weather permitting.

 

[Bright Raven]

Kayaked and fished Tallapoosa River last weekend. Above picture was taken today of the Chattahochee River. Hoping to talk husband, brother or son into kayaking and fishing it this weekend. Weather permitting.

Good for you. Did it just rain or is it normal to be murky?

 

[BrangusUSA]

Been raining the last four days off and on. Unfortunately, shows chance of rain and/or lightning for the next nine days straight. I feel so sorry for our hay guy. He got all of our hay cut and baled. It is in the barn. But he was stressing the other evening with all these people calling wanting their hay cut RIGHT THEN. Now he cant cut it at all with the weather.

 

[True Grit Farms]

Ok, no I am not from Vegas. I was born at Grady Memorial in Atlanta, GA. My husband and adult son just joined the Georgia Cattlemens Association. I remarked that it would be nice to meet some of the Southern gentlemen who have helped us on Cattle Today at the meeting last Thursday.

Again, I paid bi-weekly premiums to Blue Cross for THREE DECADES with a pittance in claims. I mean I would go many years without seeing a doctor until they instituted compliance visits to keep the preferred rate. My husband has the misfortune to need some meds as prescribed by a doctor. I rejoice in legally being able to recoup some of the money I paid in all those years and that equates to stealing?

Stealing probably wasn't the best word for me to use, sorry. We all hate to be taken advantage of, can you imagine if we all lived by the Golden Rule how great life would be?
Being a GCA member you should come to our annual summer conference, it's at Jekyll Island this year on 7/26 - 7/28. We always have a great time, learn a lot at the seminars and the seafood supper is as good as it gets.
What chapter do you belong to?

 

[sstterry]

First, insurance companies have an obligation to their share holders to make as much profit as they can. That is capitalism. We should all rejoice in their record profits.

Second, I disagree that individuals cannot fraud large corporations.

First, I never said that large corporations could not be defrauded, they can. This debate has quickly skewed from Health Insurance to Property and Casualty Insurance, which are two entirely different animals. True Grit, Insurance fraud is real and is wrong. This debate was about health insurance.

Ron, the way I read your response, Health Insurers can charge whatever they want in premiums no matter how captive the market and deny to pay for procedures or drugs or treatment, regardless of the reason, all to "rejoice in their profits"? I respectfully disagree that this is the way to provide medical care in a modern civilized society.