Just witnessed something sad at my local pharmacy.

[amitten]

A middle aged, middle-class-looking woman gave her name to the pharmacist to pick up her prescription. She was told the total would be close to $100--did she still want the prescription? She was clearly stunned and looked down, thinking. She said, "It's always been covered by my insurance." The pharmacist said, "Well, the policy has changed and it isn't anymore. What would you like to do?" The woman, still looking stunned and upset, walked away without her medication.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Bush. Hard-working honest and insured Americans left to get sick and die...now THAT'S patriotic! :patriot:

[niyad]

1. and scenes like this are being repeated all over the country, as people

finally see that the medicare prescription bill was nothing but a big pharma gimme.

[amitten]

4. But they'll STILL vote Republican, right???

Actually, I'm starting to think maybe not. When a person of a certain political persuasion goes out publicly, loudly touting how great a certain program is, and then puts said program in place, causing much of the general populace to lose money or retirement or insurance benefits, the general populace REMEMBERS WHO SOLD THEM ON IT.

The Repubs gonna be in a bad, bad way come election time my friends. Enjoy the show.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. The only way they change

is if it effects them personally. MAYBE someone they know and love. But other wise they could give a damn. *sigh* :( As long as the teevee says it's fine. :mad:

[ComerPerro]

33. Hell, even then a lot of them don't change

because some smirking Republican jackass comes on TV and tells them that its the Democrats' fault that things are so bad (like we have any power now), or that its the Democrats' fault because they aren't doing anything about it (again, like we could, we have no power).

[roguevalley]

25. we can't assume that these people are always repugs. Poverty

knows no limits to who can belong.

[GrantDem]

46. I'm not sure...

I work with some fundies that actually believe that * is to blame for absolutely nothing. Unemployment, national debt, high gas prices, uninsured, poverty, etc.......

None of it his fault in any way....

[greiner3]

53. I hope you are, I like to say that you are right;

But it has been my experience that people in general have short memories. I think the election may still hinge on b*** bringing up 9/11 and terrorism in general. Americans are still scared. I don't know how that can be changed. Here's to the Dem that can:toast:

[yorkiemommie1]

82. 9/11 9/11 9/11

it's pavlovian already. all * has to do is say it and the sheeple cower behind him.

[WinkyDink]

86. Or more "gay marriage". worked last time.

[Shallah Kali]

96. can't afford gas, can't afford heating, but gays can't marry yippeee

:sarcasm:

[B Calm]

71. Republicans all suffer from the same disease.. Battered Wife Syndrome

[lumberjack_jeff]

73. They have an endless supply of excuses.

"The drug companies charge this much because of... uh... frivolous lawsuits. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[Maat]

2. Oh, no.

That's heartbreaking.

I might have paid it myself - I don't know. I can understand, though, how everyone is just getting by now.

[amitten]

6. I thought about offering to pay. But I could tell by her demeanor

that she would probably not accept, out of embarrassment.

[Erika]

10. Yes, many poor would rather die than ask for help

They are proud people. And they will die. W's America.

[WhereThereIsFire]

51. In fact my sister did ... under *

My sister, a Democrat, worked all her life, but only part time. When she became eligible for medicare, under *, she was totally unfamiliar with the necessity of seeing doctors for preventative medicine. And of course, she also thought the paperwork maze was a nightmare to go through and not worth it. She died from a rather minor and curable problem, rather than go though all that.

Sad, but I'd bet many are in similar situations.

As a professional, with 15 years of college, I'm also currently without any kind of health care insurance, so when I go to get prescrips filled the shock is major, even though I only take 3 medications and my doc has written the scrips for generics.

[Patiod]

104. Be sure your MD knows your situation

It sounds like you have let him/her know, but speaking as someone who went without Rx coverage for years, AND as someone who interviews MDs for a living, I know that many MDs will reserve their samples for those patients who don't have Rx coverage.

Also, as you mentioned, generics are a big help. Once a few years ago I was in the same situation as the lady you saw - so I left the pharmacy, called the doctor and said "$120!!!??? $120!!!???!". She said "well, I can write you generic erythromycin, but you'll have to take it 3 times a day, and it will rip your stomach up if you're not careful to take it with food.". I figured that for the $108 dollars I'd save by going with $12 generic erythromycin, I could swing 3x day vs 1x day, and I could be conscientious enough to be sure I took the damned things with meals. Didn't have a problem. Not all drugs have a generic, but when one is available, it's usually a big savings.

[WhereThereIsFire]

119. And there are vet supplies ...

I probably shouldn't even mention this but many drugs for HUMANS are also available (without prescrip)through online vet supplies. I knew college students who used to buy this way and not go to the doc. I would suggest that some docs might be willing to consult with you about the right amount of the vet supply to use. Some are even available OTC at pet stores!! Check out the aquarium section of your local pet store! I don't do this, but know of people who do.

[Erika]

11. Yes, many poor would rather die than ask for help

They are proud people. And they will die. W's America.

[tblue37]

66. I take three types of medication each day:

blood pressure pills, Nexium to counteract the problems caused by the blood pressure pills, and Fluonase for allergies. My insurance is better than most, yet my prescriptions still cost me $95 a month. (I quit taking my allergy pills, because that added another $50 a month to the cost, and I couldn't afford them.)

I think that despite these expenses, I am far btter off than most people who need prescription drugs. The whole thing is just so outrageous.

[WhereThereIsFire]

120. I dropped one ...

non-life-essential med too, and that saved about $65 off my monthly prescrip bill. And, have to say that I often am "not in compliance" with the amount of prescrip ... taking it twice a day rather than 3X ... on my other prescrips. Bad, bad, bad. And I'm a reasonably HEALTHY person. I hate to think of the really bad situations of truly ill and uninsured (or underinsured) people ... it is a national SHAME!

[tblue37]

136. I also don't always take my medicine as often as I am supposed to.

I don't skimp often on my blood pressure pills--just once or twice a month, maybe three times. But I usually don't take the Nexium more than 3 or 4 times a week, though I am actually supposed to take it daily. It is very expensive, even with insurance coverage.

If I don't have to be very functional--i.e, if I am not teaching or having conferences--I can handle being miserable, so I don't take the Nexium. But without it I feel as though someone is strangling me. It's called a "globus choking sensation." When the symptoms first started a couple of years ago, I assumed I was dying. But once I found out what it was, and had used the Nexium long enough for it to go away, I stopped using the Nexium all the time. It is an awful feeling, but since it isn't life-threatening, I just deal with it unless I actually have to be standing in front of a class or having conferences with students.

Since I short myself on expensive meds even with insurance coverage, I am quite sure that other people without decent coverage do it even when it is a life-threatening situation. A dear friend of mine suffers from severe chronic depression but has no insurance and can't afford the meds. I am always afraid he will end up committing suicide. My guess is that people die a lot in this country because they can't afford the meds they need to survive.

[liberalhistorian]

146. A recent study

said that at least eighteen THOUSAND deaths a year in this country are directly caused by the lack of insurance. That's THOUSAND. And the study's authors, not known for exaggeration or hyperbole, said they believed that that was actually a very conservative estimate and that there were likely thousands more deaths that could be attributed directly to lack of insurance.

And I don't doubt that for a second. I've been without insurance at times, and it's absolute hell. Thank God nothing major happened whenever I've been uninsured, or I'd have really been up shit creek.

Hospitals and clinics are especially vicious when it comes to collections and are very quick to not only demand the entire amount at once and put liens on whatever little the uninsured person owns, but also to put it on the person's credit report. And these are people who are already struggling, a medical debt on their fucking credit report is the absolute last thing they need. And don't even get me started on medical debt collectrolls!

[Maat]

26. I'm sure that's true.

It is hard not to be really angry at the lack of health coverage in our country right now.

[PassingFair]

3. Probably REAL close to the look on my face when I opened my last...

gas bill!
Holy Crap!
Gotta LOVE a country with energy people in control.
Pure EASY STREET!

:sarcasm:

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Yep

We were talking about that at my grandmother yesterday or the day before. Everyone's gas bill has gone up a hundred dollars. My grandmother and my family both had to pay around $200.

[tblue37]

137. Yep. This year I am very glad that as a middle-aged

woman, I get hot rather than cold, as I did when I was young. I can't stand to have the heat up very high. And my cats don't mind, because they wear fur coats.

[BuyingThyme]

5. What a Bush and a Frist can do when they put their heads together.

[Erika]

7. And yet we are paying for universal health care of the Iraqis

and the Israelis.

Where does Christianity come into it when we turn away our own needy?

[amitten]

12. Yes. In this era of "ownership" Americans are expected to

magically make due against all odds. But this administration is more than happy to pour all our taxpayer money into their twisted overseas projects. I would like my refund now, please. So I can buy American stuff for my American self.

[Erika]

18. and pay for our own prescriptions

rather than out of country people.

[SmokingJacket]

107. In what sense are we paying for Israel's healthcare system?

Israelis pay high taxes for it.

[lpbk2713]

8. Can you say "compassionate conservative"?

[FreedomAngel82]

9. So sad

:cry: But hey at least the gay people can't marry! :sarcasm: Ugh. Makes me sick!!!

[DianeG5385]

15. They want us to die. Haven't you figured that out yet???

The plan is to get rid of the liability, which is us, not to solve it...Take away our health care, take away our pensions and social security, demonize us to the young, remember the early 2005 Social security push by Bush focusing on the young 'uns? He implicity tried to make us the greedy, selfish folks keeping their money away from them.. Having seen them in action, they have absolutely no concern for the welfare of the American people if it costs them dollars they would otherwise be able to funnel off to their buddies.

[niyad]

16. reminds me of "waiting for an army to die: the tragedy of agent orange"

in which the author says that the government is basically dragging its feet until all the vets die off, so they don't have to shell out any money.

[amitten]

20. I have a relative who suffered poisoning by Agent Orange.

You are exactly right. The government has given him the run-around for almost a decade, refusing to pay out. And his body is rotting from the inside out. His crime? Fighting in the Vietnam War in service to his country.

Oh, and I hope his insurance still covers his meds.

[Erika]

21. Yes, reduce us to contemptible citizens for not being rich

so they can continue their global corporatist plan.

[Shallah Kali]

94. Who needs death camps when they can just let the undesireables die

Maybe some find it :tinfoilhat: but what other conclusion can I come to? Cut healthcare, cut food stamps, cut environemental protection, cut heating aid while refusing to put a stop to record breaking price gouging, don't help Katrina survivors, try to gut medicare, and on and on and on. They don't need to kill the undesireables. Nothing so messy is required to be rid of us. Just quietly stand aside and let us die.

[Erika]

22. Yes, reduce us to contemptible citizens for not being rich

so they can continue their global corporatist plan.

[mwb970]

34. It's a "culture of death".

From the record number of executions ordered by then-Gov. Bush of Texas ("Please don't kill me") through the needless slaughter of Americans in Iraq, all the way to the hundreds dead from Katrina, this awful president seems entirely oriented toward the death of American citizens. Even the plainly anti-life stem-cell research restrictions continue the pattern.

Why doesn't he just come door to door and shoot us all? Not the super-rich people, the corporate profiteers, or the religious nuts, of course. I mean the other 95% of us.

[Nicole]

17. That is terrible

I had the same thing happen to me last year. I couldn't afford the meds & had to leave them behind. I was humiliated that other customers heard that conversation.

Now I only use the drive through window, to avoid any more embarrassing moments like that.

[lvx35]

19. Well, I for one got cured by Bush's policies.

I was talking to my doctor about having a hard time concentrating on homework, getting sleepy etc (I had a lot on my plate at that time) She recommended I try something called Stratera. I went to the pharmacy and saw it was $200 a month. Suddenly my concentration didn't seem so bad after all! Instant cure! I didn't even have to take the pills! ;)

I wonder how many other people have had similar "miracle cures" with things a lot more serious than a little trouble concentrating though. :(

[amitten]

23. That is nothing like genuinely needing medication for illness.

There are millions of people who are completely dependent on certain medications. They do not deserve to get sick or die so that certain companies (and the politicians who hold STOCK in those companies) can get even richer.

[niyad]

24. and let us not forget that rummy's old company is going to make a

FORTUNE from the tamiflu vaccine.

[lvx35]

27. Yeah I know.

I was just speculating on how many people who really need medicine declared themselves "cured" like I did, and had real problems because of it.

[Nobody]

112. And that prostate cancer will cure itself

As will breast cancer, high blood pressure, thyroid diseases, HIV, and several other things.

I see your point. What will happen when someone with something major will walk away from the counter? What if they not only have to walk away without their needed meds, they might never know they need them because they can't afford to see a doctor.

I have to keep telling myself it's only three more years. But can America wait that long?

[KT2000]

28. another problem with this

Some medications are supposed to be tapered off rather than stopped all of a sudden. Our $$ policies could care less about putting people at such a risk when they cannot afford to pay cash up front for the meds.
Some drugs, such as heart medications, can result in death if stopped suddenly.

In our local paper, a columnist wrote about an elderly man who put some groceries in his cart and then went to the pharmacy counter to get his prescription. He got the prescription, then put everything that was in his cart back on the shelves. The writer felt terrible upon seeing that.
The response to the column was so hateful and mean that the columnist quit writing for the paper.

[Hekate]

29. Her pharmacist should have offered to let her split the prescription

A lot of older folks do that -- pay for 15 now and come back in two weeks for the other 15, on a month's supply. It's crappy, but it helps them get by.

My take on her "middle aged, middle class" appearance is that Nouveau Poverty (and having your insurance safety net suddenly be yanked away can certainly induce that) strikes this group harder than those who've been poor forever, not because they aren't willing to cut corners (they've already done that), not because the wife isn't working (she went back to work 15 or 20 years ago so the family could stay middle class as the economy slid) -- but simply because they've always assumed they would be able to pay their own way and they don't have a clue about how to ask for assistance, even if they were to qualify.

She feels ashamed. It's not her fault -- far from it -- but she feels ashamed. The pharmacist should have been a mensch and offered her an alternative way to handle the situation. Hopefully, she will learn to call around town for prices on any new prescriptions, or maybe there's a Costco in driving distance -- you don't have to be a member to take your Rx there.

Damn the corporate evil geniuses who turned health care and medical insurance into "the medical industry" where, like all corporations, the only allegiance is to the bottom line. They are godless, soulless, bastards of the first order.

Hekate

[NMMNG]

30. Welcome to health care under the Bush Medicare plan

Now, are you really going to let him screw with Social Security? :shrug:

[Selatius]

31. Hey, this is a pay-to-play society we live in. This is expected.

Resources are owned. They are owned and controlled in order to derive personal gain. If I charge you 100 dollars, then you either pay for the privilege, not the right, to gain access to such resources, or you walk. If you don't like that, then you've taken one step towards something other than capitalism. Who knows? Maybe you'll end up as a dyed-in-the-wool socialist as a reaction to the current order of things.

[amitten]

59. She does pay, she has insurance. The benefits have been cut.

And the prices we pay for the "resource" (?) of medication are artificially inflated. There is quite a difference between capitalism and bald-faced robbery. And it hasn't always been this way.

[SoCalDem]

80. My husband's meds..SEVEN of them

have had the co-pays rise alarmingly..

For DECADES he took NO medicine..and of course we had a ZERO copay for 10 of those years and a $3 for most of the rest.. Right about the time he was diagnosed with heart problems and diabetes and cholesterol issues, the copays went NUTS..

We went from paying $21 for co-pays to:

3 @ $75 per prescription
2 $ $50 per prescription
2 @ $25 per prescription...for a nifty total of $375.00 :grr:

[Patiod]

105. Can you work with his doctor to lower these co-pays?

There are so many options out there today. I interview doctors for a living, and they very often have NO IDEA what the prices are of the meds they prescribe, or what tier of your insurance's formulary they're on (before we start doctor-bashing , they have a LOT of more important things to worry about and keep up on, and personally, I'd rather they pay attention to the science and medicine side and let ME worry about prices and tiers).

I assume you're on top of everything already (DUers are such researchers!) but you can go online and get information on your husband's formulary (list of covered drugs), and see what meds are on what tiers. If your husband brings this with him to the doctor on his next visit, the doctor may be able to choose a drug that is just as good from a lower tier, and cut the co-pay from $75 to $50 or $25. Very often, the drug companies make deals with the insurance companies, so you might see two drugs which are exactly comparable , but one is third tier ($75 co-pay) and one is second tier ($50 co-pay) ONLY because one company has a made a deal with the insurance company to cut the price of the drug to their members in order to get favorable tier status and one hasn't. Docs are treating patients from 15 different health plans, each with their own formulary, and absolutely cannot be expected to know which pharmaco has made deals with which health plan. All they can do is prescribe and let the chips fall where they may, and count on the patient to speak up if the co-pay is too high.

[Vinca]

32. While I sypathize with the woman, another problem is the constant

bombardment of drug ads on television. It seems they want to convince everyone they'll die without a statin drug if their restless legs don't get them first. A previous poster noted a miraculous "cure" at the pharmacy when the price was quoted. The sorry fact is, lots of stuff is being prescribed only to make money, not to heal. Back to statin drugs, for example. If you note their disclaimers, they always say they don't prevent heart attack or stroke. Look at your family. If grandma lived to be 90 without statin drugs, chances are you will, too. The latest malady is that restless leg disease. While I know it exists, it's not common . . . unless you take out advertising and convince half the population they've got it. Ka-ching, ka-ching. Somehow, someway, the drug industry has to return to being health oriented and not cash oriented.

[No Exit]

37. You are so right!

And I am SO SICK of those damned prescription drug ads! And it was music to my ears when John Edwards said the same thing, during the presidential campaign.

It sends all the wrong messages: take a pill and every little tiny annoyance will go away. It's absolutely obscene.

Yes, people need medicine sometimes. But I thought that's what doctors were for--to determine if a person needs medicine. WE, the consumers (who have no medical education) do NOT need to see those ads!

Just look above on the thread... a poster said they complained to their doctor that they had trouble concentrating on homework, and the doctor prescribed a pill! What a crock of shit. Sure, there are some people who really do have a mental problem, but even with those people, what ever happened to other types of therapy besides just popping pills??

[Tracer]

42. I can relate to that too!

Having been subjected to gauzily-filmed, emotionally charged commercials for a drug called "Neulasta", I was at least familiar with the name when my doctor prescribed a SINGLE SHOT of the stuff.

The SINGLE SHOT of Neulasta costs $3,100.00.

[IndyOp]

47. Part of the challenge of battling pharma is drugs like Neulasta --

I wish it had been available when my mother was fighting breast cancer (she lost the battle). I have an acquaintance who was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago. She is so, so, so grateful for the 'miracle drugs' that she won't think the slightest negative thoughts about the pharma companies. I've talked to her about the fact that the research to develop these drugs is largely subsidized by grants from the federal government and that these miracle drugs are often sold for a fraction of the price outside the country -- she does *not* want to hear it. It is an emotionally-packed issue...

[No Exit]

54. Unbelievable!!!

[laugle]

101. Good heavens what is "Neulasta" used for? n/t

[Tracer]

109. Neulasta boosts white blood cell counts.

During chemotherapy (which I've successfully finished), white blood cell counts can drop to dangerously low levels.

Neulasta supposedly encourages the body to produce more of these cells.

Maybe it does. All I know is that I felt 100 times worse after receiving this shot.

[No Exit]

115. And the patients themselves are undoubtedly in the best position

to determine if they need Neulasta? "Doctor, I think I need more white blood cells!" :sarcasm:

What I'm saying is, why is this stuff advertised to the general public?? Most people (aside from those who have had an ordeal like yours) don't even know they HAVE white blood cells! Why is this stuff not advertised to the PHYSICIANS?

I wish you the very best in your struggle with this illness! Hope you gain strength every day!

[Tracer]

121. Thanks for your good wishes.

I'm feeling just fine!

The 5-year survival rate for my type of cancer if caught early (as mine was) is 98%.

Who wouldn't feel good with those kinds of odds?

[No Exit]

135. Well, that's good to know!!

[laugle]

133. Thanks for the reply...I'm glad you finished the

Chemo. I hope you will be feeling better soon.

My best wishes and prayers go with you for a speedy recovery.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

44. I'm tired of hearing about erections

that last more than four hours!

[No Exit]

55. Yeah--even the humor value has worn off!

I remember way back when people got all in a huff over sanitary napkin ads on TV. Oh, brother. I imagine a lot of those people are dead now, and it's just as well for them, so they can't see our "brave new world".

[TahitiNut]

81. When I was in high school ...

... that was normal. :evilgrin:

[annabanana]

144. heehee

:spank:

I love you... you nut

[EC]

67. I've got restless leg syndrome sometimes (at bedtime usually)

and all you have to do is either massage or walk around or a hot bath, takes care of it, my Mom had it too, she did the same....

[NashVegas]

84. My Cure for That

Tie a knee-sock around the point on the leg where the throb or whatever is coming from. Not too tight. It's like counter-pressure or something, I don't know, but it lets me get to sleep.

[Shallah Kali]

95. re: statins - my mom just had a horrid reaction to hers

her cholesterol is high but her arteries are show clear under testing. Her doctor's one bit of advice was to avoid eggs and red meat - which she doesn't eat anyhow 0 so he finally convinced her to go on a drug. After 1 month her legs started aching. A week later her ankles and feet are swollen up like baloons! She is in constant pain even when off her feet. Doctor took her off the drug and she is waiting for the crap to get out of her system so her feet will go back to normal. We have a cousin that was put on the same drug and he had the same thing happen. he said it took a month to get better & had to go to a new doctor who took him off most of the meds the old one had him on. Said it wasn't necessary. So even if the ads don't have everyone medicating every twinge there are doctors wanting to do it.

[BushOut06]

35. Maybe it's the GOP way of dealing with the AARP

If you can't get them to vote for you...kill 'em off. Only those who can afford their overpriced medications will survive, and they probably vote GOP anyways. Really sad, when you can't afford to live. Shouldn't access to medicine be a basic human right?

[No Exit]

36. That's exactly what happened to me.

Except for the fact that I haven't had insurance that covered such things for over 10 years. We have to buy our own insurance--and the only way we can afford the premium is by having a deductible of about $9000.

I got bitten by a dog about a year ago. The antibiotic prescribed for me was going to cost over $200! It didn't come in generic. I just didn't buy it. (The antibiotic was not as a rabies protection, but was just as protection against an infection at the site of the actual bite.)

Luckily, I turned out fine--this time.

[BIG Sean]

38. How horrible is that?!

I can not for the life of me understand why healthcare is not a priority in this country. Healthcare, education, housing, jobs...these are the things that our government should be helping American citizen with.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

39. Yep...my wife sees it all the time when she picks up her prescription....

...for which she has to pay cash because we haven't had health insurance now for almost a year.

We paid for our own health insurance when I still had my own business.

Yeah...thanks Herr Busch.

[LizW]

40. I've had that happen

I had to see a specialist last summer and he blithely prescribed an antibiotic that cost over $100. The pharmacist had to tell me the cost and that I hadn't yet met my deductible. The real pisser was that I got the drug, had an allergic reaction to it and had to flush it down the toilet. The antibiotic the Dr. prescribed to replace it worked fine and only cost $10.

:grr:

[bobbieinok]

131. a young on-call dr prescribed a new, not-covered drug....my regular

dr changed the prescription to an older, covered one.......her comment: 'I want to see if the older ones work before going to a new one'

note: I have some problems with this dr, but she's older and cautious.......when I was in transition between Cobra insurance and medicare and concerned about cost of drugs, the nurse gave me many free samples; she didn't even need to ask the dr, it was a regular practice for them apparently

[rox63]

41. I see this sort of thing all the time

My mom is elderly and disabled, so I have to go pick up her prescriptions several times a month. And I have seen this sort of situation play out at the pharmacy pretty regularly.

[YOY]

43. We the phamaceutical, HMOs, and insurance companies ...

In order to form a more perfect system of fucking over the people, establish non-justice, insure constant profits, provide for the common defense against the common man, disregard the general welfare, and secure the blessings of the allmighty bottom line to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this medical system for the United States of America.

[Cleita]

50. After this Medicare prescription drug benefit kicks in,

I think we are going to need an underground railroad to Canada and Mexico so people can get their prescription drugs at a reasonable price.

[rd_kent]

45. SAD, but at least he was willing to give it to her.

It is very unfortunate that she couldnt afford her meds and that problem is showing itself EVERYWHERE.

[amitten]

60. You misunderstood...he wasn't willing to give it to her. She

walked off empty-handed because she had no other choice.

[rd_kent]

79. Ahh, but you misunderstand me...

I was referencing the fact that some pharmacicsts will not dispense birth control on religious grounds. I was just meaning at least the guy was wiiling to "sell" it to her. It is unfortunate she could not pay.

[amitten]

97. Good point. n/t

[Beaverhausen]

148. Do we know that she was buying birth control?

I missed that somewhere.

[MountainLaurel]

150. No

I think the poster was trying to point out that a lot of people risk not getting their medications despite their ability to pay.

Frankly, I'm waiting for the first fundie pharmacist to refuse to fill a prescription for Prozac or lithium, since in their eyes psychology is just a symptom of secular society's selfish nature and that mental illness really doesn't exist.

[noamnety]

48. The day after the election

I watched the news and saw Bush had miraculously won despite the exit polls. I went out to the drug store, still in shock, and that was the first scene I saw - a couple trying to get medicine for their child, and when confronted with the price, they just stood there, neither wanting to be the one to say they'd let their kid do without. The pharmacist was waiting respectfully while they decided what to do, nobody in line was rude enough to try to rush them.

We all just stood there, not moving, for what seemed like ages, watching those people digest the fact that they couldn't provide for their child.

That will forever be stamped in my head as the definitive portrait of Bush's America.

[ArmchairMeme]

49. Medicine to the vulnerable

What will the wealthy, pharma, corporate, etc. population do when a communicable disease comes along and it does not discriminate between those that can/cannot afford to become sick. Especially something that is spread through the air. A person may be wealthy but their servants, customers, public will spread the disease to them even despite their wealth.

It is best to think of protecting ALL PEOPLE from disease then everyone will benefit!

[The Straight Story]

52. So whose fault is it really?

The pharma companies, *, congress, the insurance companies, us all, the old lady for not saving her money better?

I think blaming bush is missing the real problems deeper down, and he will be out of office soon and somehowe, even if we get a Dem in there, I don't think this problem will magically disappear.

We probably won't change presidents in the next 2 two years - but we can work on changing other things, and first we need to pinpoint exactly the causes.

[FlaGranny]

56. Things really started to

deteriorate in the 1970s. That's when corporations decided - big time - that there was a lot of profit to be made in health care and started buying doctors and hospitals. Before then, even without insurance, most people could manage to get by. I remember the family doctor with his office in his home and his pills in jars on shelves in his office. He didn't have a secretary. When he finished with one patient, he sent them on their way, and got the next patient himself. People didn't have insurance and didn't really need it. He didn't even charge extra for the pills. He would even come to your house if you felt too sick to come in to his office. I remember when the hospitals were ALL nonprofit. I remember, just after getting married, before we had insurance, and I got sick and spent a few days in the hospital. We managed to pay the bill ourselves within a year or two and still managed to get by. I must be getting really old!

[1monster]

93. Even the "nonprofit" hospitals rip you off these days.

My husband was having angina attacks and was sent to the local "nonprofit" hospital (the only hospital in our county). He needed an agioplasty and a stent placement, a service the hospital did not provide at that time.

They told him that they would get him a bed in the big city hospital which did do the procedure. But five days later, they still said there were no beds available in the big city hospital. Until he had a mild heart attack while lying in bed. Then they had that bed in the big city hospital within half an hour and were transporting via ambulence within one hour.

The deductible had been met, plus the $5000.00 ceiling on out of pocket expenses for us. The insurance was to cover the local "nonprofit" hospital's bill 100%.

Then we recieved a bill from the "nonprofit" for $8,000 over and above what the insurance company paid (and they had paid rather generously at that).

I went to the hospital to ask for an explanation. They indicated that our insurance company was being unreasonabale.

I asked for a printout. The charges were all for pharmaceuticals. The hospital offered me a deal. They said if I paid them $1,000, they would write off the remaining $7,000.

I took the printout to a pharmacist friend and asked him if I should make the $1,000 payment or try to make the insurance company pay up.

He laughed and said, "Make the $1,000 payment, Jo. There is no way your insurance company is going to pay this. You seed this drug here? I can get you 2,000 pills for what they charged you for one."

"We can charge any amount we want for the drugs," the accounts receivable rep told me. "There are no laws about it."

I call it extortion.

By the way, that same "nonprofit" hospital paid $30,000,000 cash for a new extention to the hospital (which tripled the size of the hospital), then decided that it was still too small and added even even more, paid for with cash....

[amitten]

57. "For not saving her money better?" Excuse me please, but I find

it amazing that some still assume everyone has extra left over to save. Not everyone lives like you and I, and often through no fault of their own. There are plenty of people out there who work two or even three jobs, can't afford further education, get left holding the bag by their spouse who ran away with someone, with two little kids left behind to feed, who buy nothing extra, who have no cable or phone service or anything at all that doesn't involve basic survival, and who have no one who cares left to turn to. Then on top of it all, the few social services they might benefit from are pulled out from under them, and they are powerless to stop it. And even if you think the adult is somehow entirely 'responsible', does anyone really think that the powerless children of these people deserve to suffer or die? Because they often do.

Thousands and thousands in situations like that, or even worse, in our great country. Does any sane person truly think that these people should have "saved their money better" so they could pay severely hiked-up prices for their medicine?

Whoever thinks that way is un-patriotic, un-Christian, and in my personal opinion unworthy of the sheltered and privileged life they so selfishly lead.

[The Straight Story]

61. I did not say *I* felt that way

but you can be assured that some do.

My question was generically - where do people place the blame and what solutions do they see?

[amitten]

64. These days, the victim is always blamed. It's easier than caring.

And it's making me more and more ashamed of humankind every day. People have decided it's okay not to care. And then they waltz around calling themselves Christians.

Bullshit.

[earth mom]

127. Great Post! I feel the EXACT same way! nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

74. Solution

National single payer health insurance, the canadian model... that is the solution, STOP BLAMING THE VICTIM

[bobbieinok]

132. RW brother claims all his friends with Canada experience say Canadian

medical care (because of their health coverage) is the pits

[Shallah Kali]

100. You said exactly what I think when people say that

I think of those folks you mentioned and of people like my Grandparents who worked hard, saved all they could but then helped others so often they are now just have a tiny bit more than makes ends meet. Enough for bingo once a week and basic cable. I guess accodring to some they should have walked away from relatives and friends going without silly things like winter coats for their kids and kept it all for themselves so they wouldn't be looked down upon for needing help themselves at times.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

63. The "old lady" never envisioned that the social systems that had....

...been in place all of her life, like Social Security and Medicare, would no longer be recognizable after she retired. Slamming somebody who can't fight back, and is in a bad situation not of her own making, is definitely NOT the direction to go on this issue.

Herr Busch and his merry little band of NeoCons are responsible for every damn bit of the dismantling of Social Security and Medicare. The tax cuts to the top 1% was the first step, followed by the huge increase in the Defense Budget, and finalized by the huge money drain in the Middle East. Additionally, wages have dropped by roughly 40% since 911, while costs on gasoline, utilities, food, and all other consumer goods have gone straight up.

Who do YOU want to blame for this sorry state of affairs? The poor? The disappearing middle class? How about the homeless and the hungry?

IMHO, you need to do a little better job of educating yourself before you make certain comments.

[progressivebydesign]

72. "old" lady? Umm middle age is around 45 or 50. sheesh. n/t

[NashVegas]

85. Us All - For Sleeping

For those who had/have good insurance benefits through work, you just pick up your prescription or plunk down your $10/$20/whatever co-pay and don't think about it. Or you do look at what the bill would be otherwise and feel grateful.

[roody]

58. Americans need to get off drugs.

I sympathize with those who truly need their drugs. My doctor brother says they do not even suggest exercise and low fat diets to their patients because the patients will not do it. This society is totally over medicated. My grandparents were healthy into their eighties and did not take drugs. I take no drugs and my sick, no exercise, no healthy, living food, breakfast at Wendy's drive through, sister says "Oh you don't have prescriptions? Oh, not yet." The norm should be drug free, active, vegetable eating people. Wake up America and take responsibility for your health. Go for a walk!

[amitten]

62. Tell that to the next schizophrenic you meet. Or tell that to the

next healthy person you meet who has been diagnosed with an incurable cancer. Lance Armstrong, one of the healthiest men alive, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. If you know how he could have been more 'responsible' and prevented that cancer, I daresay you ought to market your psychic abilities somehow.

People should be responsible for their own diets, yes. But some illness has nothing to do with that. In fact, many things are genetic.

[Iowa]

78. I agree with you and would go even further...

I've had it with those who point to grandparents who were healthy into their nineties (blah, blah, blah) as evidence that it's ultimately the individual's responsibility to be healthy. My worthless Governor and DLC Chair, Tom Vilsack, has been pushing that line of thinking lately. It creates a nice diversion from the fact that our political leaders have failed to get off their asses and truly address our broken health care system with other than half-ass tweaks that serve to prop up the existing failed system. And it concerns me that they may have something in store for us that they're softening us up for.

I happen to have been born lucky - never struggled with weight, no disabilities, no dreaded diseases, etc. Pure luck of the draw. I don't give a rip how someone eats or whether they exercise or otherwise live their lives. It's none of my damned business. If they're sick, I want them to have the health care they need.

We can figure out a way to treat everyone who needs it. The system is a mess and it needs to be repaired, but I'm not interested in a fix that involves the meddling and moral judgments of any pompous asshole who just happens to be healthy - especially when it comes to the delivery of health care services. If the time ever comes when we all go to work and start the day with mandatory calisthenics and blood tests, I'm out here.

[uppityperson]

83. I have about 1 month to live before I die unless I take my medicine

Exercise and low fat diets will not help. I have 1 parent like that who is 80+. Other parent died 60+ because of auto-immune illness that medicine helped keep alive for 10 yrs. I am glad that you do not need medicine to be healthy or stay alive. Ture, some people are overmedicated, but unfortunately, the norm is split between those who can live without meds and those who can't.

[Straight Shooter]

92. Sheesh, roody, how old are you?

Bless you for your good genetics, but believe me, exercising, diet, et cetera, et cetera, blah blah blah, all of that will not prevent you from needing medication if your body fails you somehow. I sincerely hope your thyroid stays intact and you never acquire diabetes. It isn't necessarily someone's "fault" that they need meds.

As for your doctor brother, I find it hard to believe that exercise and low fat diets aren't even being suggested. A good doctor (and most of them are good physicians) always suggests and implements conservative treatment first, and, if that fails, gradually steps up the regimen per the patient's lifestyle.

[roody]

117. I'm 52

and extremely lucky with my health. I also do not eat meat and exercise moderately and regularly. I'm not discouraging the life saving drugs. I'm sure you know that obesity is an epidemic here. Obesity will now surpass smoking in preventable cause of death. At least according to last nights' Frontline on The Diet Wars.

[Straight Shooter]

124. You are extremely lucky.

And you are doing everything possible to keep the odds on your side. Not everyone is so fortunate, even those who take care of themselves.

I agree that too many are overweight for their own comfort. But I also do not consider them to blame, when there is sugar added in almost every single food on the supermarket shelves, it seems like. Also, restaurants that overload plates with too much food. Dining out has stopped being a special aesthetic experience. I could go on and on, but I'll stop there.

Anyway, thank you for responding. I hope you remain very healthy and strong until the end of your days. :)

[roody]

140. Actually I am 20 pounds overweight.

I love ice cream. Another habit on my side is that I do not eat fast food. We have to take responsibility for our health. The SAD, standard american diet, aside from being horrible for our health, makes us slaves of the corporations. Who decided what is on your dinner plate? Corporations decided what processed foods I ate growing up. Fortunately, we were sort of poor and I never drank soda. Why did we eat white bread? The corporations told us to. What are you eating that the corporations have mandated?

[ScreamingMeemie]

143. Everything is not based upon diet. I never drank soda either.

:shrug: We can not pigeonhole everything into blaming poor diet. Some people, even younger ones like me (35 and active) are unlucky. Attitudes such as yours are truly more scary than lack of covererage IMO.

[ScreamingMeemie]

141. Ahem...roody...as a person with an immune system that suffers from

fate...not diet, lack of exercise or otherwise, I say,"Bite me". My heart is broken through no fault of my own. My pancreas is crap through faulty white cells, not fast food intake. I don't frequent McD's, I go for walks...but yeah, it's my fault. :eyes: Get a life, ass.

[prudentlike]

65. I'd be interested in knowing what she was trying to purchase.

She was probably trying to get birth control. Many insurance companies aren't covering it anymore.


Viagra is covered, though.

[annabanana]

147. ri-i-i-i-ight

enjoy your stay

[Straight Shooter]

149. I don't think insurance companies ever covered birth control.

And I may be wrong, but it seems that Congress has decided that Medicare shouldn't cover Viagra anymore, either. I don't know whether it's covered by typical policies.

This is one of the prejudicial discrepanices of a patriarchal society, unfortunately. The woman carries most of the weight of responsibility for sexual activity and reproduction.

Welcome to DU, prudentlike. :hi:

[LostinVA]

151. Transparent as glass

[progressivebydesign]

68. My Mom lives in a senior/disabled building today they lost their HUD money

So, in one year, all of the very elderly and frail people who have lived there for years and expected to die there, will have to find new homes... because HUD is slashing loans to business that will provide lower cost housing to people who probably bring in around 800 bux a month, not including medical copayments and medications that are no longer covered. At least they get a year to start looking... how utterly sick all of this is.

Bush hates America.

[jbnow]

110. I'd think HUD cuts

would be for new loans or applications. I'd never expect it to cut off people already using it.

Where do people go for safe housing when their income is so low?
I hope their are people/agencies there to help them. Maybe some can share homes or apartments, a little more affordable that way. But that is very disturbing news.

[lovuian]

69. I would have shouted go to a Canadian pharmacy...

or take a trip overseas and get it that way...

These Pharmaceuticals greed is going to destroy themselves...

[nadinbrzezinski]

70. this is the kind of pain that is needed to convnce many

folks that pubies are their enemies, but someobdy must make the connection for them... weclome to Republican rule

[deek]

75. Pharmacist could've tried to help a bit more

They could have resubmitted, suggested alternative, offered to call dr. to get covered but similar med....

I have a great pharmacist. He does this for my family all the time.

[Hubert Flottz]

76. If you think watching her walk away was sad...

try being like her sometime. * It sucks!

[Maestro]

77. I'd be hurtin' too if I had to pay for all my family's prescriptions.

I'm lucky though. Much of what I take I get free from a friend who works in a doctor's office. The doctor routinely used to throw away all the sample drugs he gets from the pharma companies. Now she gathers it up and brings it to all her friends. Even with that, I can't get all of what I need and I spend on average about $150.00 a month on prescription drugs. My insurance is horrible. These are not new drugs. Heck one is Synthroid that has been around since the 50's, yet I have to pay $50.00 bucks for it. Another drug I need, my doctor gives me double the dosage so I can halve thus only having to buy it twice a month instead of once. He hates insurance companies too.

[laugle]

87. That is truly a very sad story. Right now I am dealing with the VA

regarding my 84 year old dad. They are making me absolutely crazy!! He is one of a few old soldiers from WW2. I wrote about him on my Veterans Day thread "My dad Bill". He was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and spent 3 years in a Japanese prison camp. Believe when I say, know one gives a damm at the VA about old people.

If anyone is familiar with the VA system, please let me know, I may need some advice. Thanks...

[Shallah Kali]

98. I wish I could help. My Gram has told me of the trouble the VA gives her

when trying to get her husband cared for. He has parkinson's among other problems so thank goodness he has my Gram to do the talking and fighting.

[usregimechange]

88. This happens a lot. I want my country back for them.

[1monster]

89. I worked in a pharmacy for ten years. Normally in a situation like this,

the pharmacist would offer to call the doctor to see if the doc would be willing to switch her to a different, lower-cost drug.

Only in very rare cases, where there were no other drugs available to effectively treat the problem, did the doctor refuse.

Then quite often, the pharmacist would allow the patient to buy a week's worth of the Rx at a time. This did not lower the cost of the drug, but did help the patient by minimizing the impact of the cost by spreading it over the whole month rather than all at once.

[Nobody]

114. Back when I went three years without insurance

my doc gave me free samples so I could save up and buy my drug. I have something that I have to take drugs for the rest of my life and can't ever stop.

Now my own insurance has switched over to one where the co-pay is more than the cost of the drug.

I can't go generic, by orders of the doc.

[ddeclue]

90. Truly "compassionate" conservatism at work...

:cry:

[welshTerrier2]

91. Where's the media???

this is the kind of thing Presidents used to get asked at press conferences ... yeah, that'll happen ...

it is truly tragic to hear about things like this ... what the hell has happened to our country???

[hopeisaplace]

99. that is so upsetting

I feel so bad for this woman..especially since I have 2 prescriptions recently
filled (I'm from Canada) and I'm just about to mail in my receipts and
get my money back. Why can't the US get coverage for everyone..I will never
understand this.

Also, in 2004 I had surgery (first time in my life - a bit scary -) and I
was able to get the operation in about 1 month (not a long waiting period -
but I'd rather wait than have to be paying out of pocket). I left the hospital
without a bill. Nothing mailed to me. Nada. Totally covered. I don't understand
the US medical system at all and why others don't have this.

[acmavm]

102. No surprise here. I take my blood pressure medication every two or

three days. It runs about 190.00 a month. I don't have 190.00 a month or insurance. Or Medicare. Or anything.

I work. Always. Maybe at less than glamorous jobs, but I work.

Had a bunch of little strokes and then one big one a it will be a year ago on Jan. 2nd.

There's no reason for medication to be sooooo damn expensive. Pharmaceutical companies get government subsidies and tax breaks. I don't get either. And the R&D costs on this shit was paid off a long time ago. And I'm not allowed to get it from out-of-country where it's cheaper.

Oh well. Life goes on. For now.

[tiddlywinks]

106. does your insurance not allow you to order from Canada?

A family member of mine does this regularly...saving THOUsands.

I hope things work out for you. :hug:

[acmavm]

123. What insurance? The last policy I could have gotten wanted

$648.00 a month. That's almost a whole check, almost two weeks pay after taxes.

I just laughed.

[xchrom]

103. repeat after to me: i'll be in the poor house, sick and broke but

i'm safe from the evil threat of gay marriage.

[Jim__]

108. And when they changed her policy so that it covered less ...

... did they tell her? Did they reduce her premium?

These are the people bushco wants to put in charge of our national healthcare. I cannot understand how anybody voted for them.

[jbnow]

111. A sad part is what her insurance

would have paid for those drugs was probably closer to $60. They negotiate the prices. Those who pay cash (and can usually least afford it) pay full price.

[tyedyeto]

113. Talking with a retired person yesterday about Rx coverage...

The person told me that their prescription for just one of the drugs taken, cost $20/month all year until October when it rose to over $200/month. This was due to the fact that the cap had been reached on the Rx plan. And that was for just one of the 7 different prescriptions this person takes in order to survive.

I've talked to so many retired people who are paying so much for their health care but yet, when it comes down to the voting booth, they still vote repug.....I just don't get it.

[area51]

116. avg. American

I think the average American has no idea of just how well off people in other, civilized countries are in regards to healthcare.

Republinazi message to decent Americans: "go fsck yourself & die". Yes, this is the nazi "culture of life". :mad:

[SoCalDem]

118. Civilized countries also have at LEAST one month of vacation

for all employees. Their "standard of living" may not be as glitzy as ours, but lessening stress has to be worth the trade-off.

If you made a bit less and had a smaller domicile, BUT your college was subsidized or free, your health care was not a huge cost to you, and you had decent public transportation and didn't need a car, your income would stretch a lot better to cover your expenses..and then there's the time off issue. Americans work MORE hours, and have LESS discretionary income..and we are sicker and fatter..

Maybe "old Europe" is not as backwards as the *² tries to tell us it is

[bobbieinok]

134. in Germany, 1 month PAID vacation.....at least it used to be that way

[citizen snips]

122. The war on the middle class is alive and well.

[stanwyck]

128. Add to that war

increases in home heating and gasoline, tuition hikes...and you wonder how the middle-class Bushies could be bought off so easily with a phony $300 tax rebate.

[earth mom]

125. I can relate.

Recently, I had a skin rash I needed a prescription for. When I found out the meds were gonna cost me over $50 that I didn't have, I decided to suffer through it. I used some OTC antibiotic cream and it eventually cleared up.

I'm not a fan on the medical industry at all-far too many are greedy bastards IMO. No doubt they will be the death of us all-mainly because we can't afford to be "cured" by them!!! The kicker is they are sworn to "heal" us now aren't they? Funny how they can't do that unless we've got the coin to pay up first. :sarcasm:

[tenshi816]

126. My dad was recently diagnosed

with congestive heart failure. A lot of his meds aren't covered by insurance and they're costing him a lot of money. He had already been questioning his blind allegiance to the Dumbass and listening to me (finally), but I think this is the straw that is going to break the camel's back.

My dad has had to spend nearly $500 on medicine in the last few weeks alone. He's retired and not rich, and this is hurting him.

[amitten]

130. And that is what the Republican leadership is forgetting.

They have gotten very far by saying what people want to hear about religion, ethical dilemmas, terror, etc. But when you hit someone--hard--in the pocketbook, you've just lost yourself a vote.

And if you continue to hit that person, and things reach a boiling point, you've got a revolution on your hands.

Hmmm...wonder if any of those guys at the top have been 'rethinking' their Second Amendment stance...

[DanCa]

129. Faith based medicine - pray that you dont get sick.

My people cost 350 dollars a month if they get rid of disability insurance I am sick.

[Rex]

138. We are a nation of buyers and sellers, haves and have nots.

Capitalism comes at a price.

[amitten]

139. You can have capitalism and still install govt. funded medicine.

There is a difference between capitalism and unbridled capitalism. If it is a matter of life or death, profit should not be a concern. Not every single thing needs to be treated like a business...that is unhealthy for any society.

[liberalhistorian]

142. Neocons to

the lower class, middle class and elderly: Just fuck off and hurry up and DIE ALREADY!

And while you're at it, to pay for your medical care and medicines, please sign over your house, car, and any and all other possessions you've worked hard for all your lives. And if that's not enough, you'll just have to get a second full-time job. After all, you must keep us in the style to which we're accustomed, which has, of course, been done on the backs of people like you. Look at it this way, the stress will just cause you to keel over sooner, which means you won't have to deal with us that long, and only your family will live in the hell we've created for you. Now doesn't that make you feel better already? :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[OzarkDem]

145. I've known breast cancer survivors who've done this

One a young woman who finished 5 years on Tamoxifen(to prevent recurrence) was given a new script for Arimidex - the drug to prevent recurrence after 5 yrs on the previous drug.

Long story short, she couldn't afford the new drug, went back to Tamoxifen because it was cheaper. In many cases, taking the drug longer than 5 years can have a "reverse" effect, actually increasing chance of recurrence.

Guess what? Her breast cancer came back. All because she couldn't afford the cost of the new drug.