The High Cost of Staying Alive (Page 2): It isn't just just the EpiPen. The Montana News had a story a few days ago about the skyrocketing insulin prices. At least three major health...

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

It isn't just just the EpiPen. The Montana News had a story a few days ago about the skyrocketing insulin prices. At least three major health insurance companies have quit the Exchange market. What we are experiencing now were the 'sky is falling' warnings of 6-8 years ago. What the drug industry is saying is "how much is your life worth" and "fork over if."

Big Bill Loc: Phoenix, AZ

2Dragons wrote:

That is just so much horse-puckies!

How so?

2Dragons Loc: The Back of Beyond

Big Bill wrote:

How so?

Because they could charge one heck of a lot less and still make money. So, caving to public sentiment, and only addressing the ones who have no insurance with a "credit", they are still screwing the health insurance companies who will have to pay the full amount, and they (insurance cos.) in turn will up their premiums to cover Mylan's increase, which means the rest of us have to pay for it in the long run. Everything trickles down.

FrankR Loc: NYC

2Dragons wrote:

The price of a l ml ampule is $4.49, and Mylan wan... (show quote)

Not disputing the fact that Mylan, like other pharmaceutical companies is ripping us off. However, they acquired the epi-pen while it was still under patent in 2007. It came off patent last year, with an exception. The exception is the safety cap over the needle of the device, which is under a patent held by Meridian Medical Technology, part of Pfizer. I'm surprised that Pfizer, who makes Viagra, hasn't gotten into the funeral business, so they can get you coming and going.

2Dragons Loc: The Back of Beyond

FrankR wrote:

I'm surprised that Pfizer, who makes Viagra, hasn't gotten into the funeral business, so they can get you coming and going.

OMG! Good one! Still cracking up as I type this.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

FrankR wrote:

Not disputing the fact that Mylan, like other pharmaceutical companies is ripping us off. However, they acquired the epi-pen while it was still under patent in 2007. It came off patent last year, with an exception. The exception is the safety cap over the needle of the device, which is under a patent held by Meridian Medical Technology, part of Pfizer. I'm surprised that Pfizer, who makes Viagra, hasn't gotten into the funeral business, so they can get you coming and going.

mdfenton

Epson ink is no longer "the most expensive stuff on earth."

mdfenton

http://www.valuewalk.com/2016/08/epipen-competitors-fda/

Take a look at the role of the FDA in blocking competition and holding prices down.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Big Bill wrote:

Mylan has moved to reduce the price after the firestorm...

http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/25/news/companies/mylan-epipen/

"...for people who are struggling to afford it."

bemused_bystander Loc: Orkney Islands, UK

My friend gave me his epi pen as he was dying. It must have been important to him, as he really seemed to want me to have it.

wideangle Loc: Wisconsin

It's not the epinephrine that's expensive. It's the delivery system. You can get epinephrine in a syringe style that is much cheaper, but it takes longer to use. It is easier to take the pen and plunge it and get the dose needed. The pen system is what is pricey now, just because they can make it that way.

natron

Maybe Joe Manchin needs to be reminded that there is no real need for him to remain in congress if his daughter is going to persist in ripping off the body politic…

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

wideangle wrote:

It's not the epinephrine that's expensive. It's the delivery system. You can get epinephrine in a syringe style that is much cheaper, but it takes longer to use. It is easier to take the pen and plunge it and get the dose needed. The pen system is what is pricey now, just because they can make it that way.

"Pricey" is a very flexible term, and why did it get more pricey?

Big Bill Loc: Phoenix, AZ

2Dragons wrote:

Because they could charge one heck of a lot less and still make money. So, caving to public sentiment, and only addressing the ones who have no insurance with a "credit", they are still screwing the health insurance companies who will have to pay the full amount, and they (insurance cos.) in turn will up their premiums to cover Mylan's increase, which means the rest of us have to pay for it in the long run. Everything trickles down.

Insurance companies never pay full price. To see this, just look at any form you get detailing the charges and payments for about any procedure. The list price is shown, the price the insurance paid is shown, and the cost to you (if any) is shown. What the insurance pays plus what you pay does not add up to the list price. This is one of the benefits of collective bargaining, along with restrictions on how much health care people and organizations are allowed to collect, as set down in the ACA. IOW, they can charge whatever they want, but aren't going to collect it all from insurance or the patient. (This, BTW, is why many large health insurance companies are pulling out of ACA collectives; they don't pay enough.)

Note, I'm not defending the epipen price increase, only trying to educate those who don't understand how the health care system works.

Big Bill Loc: Phoenix, AZ

jerryc41 wrote:

"...for people who are struggling to afford it."

Which, of course, is undefined.
I'm not defending the price increase. Just showing what can be found by a simple search, which seems to be hard for a lot of people.