The Insulin Racket

saw that article yesterday. this is a huge issue that seems to be going nowhere fast.

 

Healthcare in the US is obviously a disaster and this is a terrible story. But it's also completely f***ed up on the facts.

1. If he's 26 yrs old, single, and makes $35k per year, he's eligible for Obamacare subsidies. Meaning he could get a Silver Plan for no more than about 9% of his income ($250ish per month).

2. I can't speak to Minnesota's plans, but most states have plans that include a separate deductible or a simple co-pay for prescription drugs. He likely could have gotten one of those, and not paid anything close to $1000/month for his meds.

3. If that's not the case, insurance still generally negotiates rates even if the individual has to pay the amount from his deductible. The idea that no insurance would have a negotiated rate below $1000/month sounds crazy to me.

4. Even if THAT were true, Obamacare plans also have an out-of-pocket maximum around $6500. Combined with his premiums, if he got insurance, the maximum he could spend on ALL his health care for the year should be around $10,000 - that includes doctor's appts, any other meds, etc. That's less than the cost of his $1000/month meds.

Something in this article doesn't add up. Maybe @justtxyank can weigh in here?

EDIT: Note, my comments have nothing to do with the insulin-specific issue here. Obviously skyrocketing prescription drug prices is a major problem, even if this particular story doesn't add up.

 

She doesn't have to be lying - they could have just done really poor research. I mean, you can do it yourself in about 5 minutes. We know he was 26, single, lived in Minneapolis. You can go here:

https://compare.mnsure.org

This was in 2017, so presumably prices have gone up. Even without subsidies, the most expensive Gold Plan listed is $300/month and that includes a $750 annual deductible. There's not a single plan that's anywhere close to $450.

 

Mitch McConell has his block hammer at the ready.


Tina Smith Announces Emergency Insulin Bill

Sen. Tina Smith announced plans Friday to introduce legislation to hold insulin manufacturers accountable for the drug’s price increase. The Minnesota Democrat said she will introduce the Emergency Access to Insulin Act next week, two years after Minnesotan Alec Smith, a 26-year-old type one diabetic, died from rationing insulin.

The bill would give uninsured or under-insured diabetics short-term insulin via State Insulin Assistance Programs, or SIAPs. Sen. Smith said federal grants would enable SIAPs to provide emergency insulin to patients.

The bill will also propose bringing generic insulin to market faster and penalizing insulin manufacturers for insulin price spikes.

In the act, Sen. Smith said the average price of insulin almost doubled between 2012 and 2016, and a quarter of diabetics cut back on insulin for financial reasons. She says patients without insurance or with high deductibles are hit the hardest with skyrocketing insulin prices.

 

I also thought it sounded fishy.

 

I started another thread on insulin. Wal-Mart sells insulin for $25. For me i have to get two types. Its $50 a month.

They have been selling it for four years. I had an argument about people not wanting to use the WalMart brand. Even if you dont want to use the Wal-Mart brand the most ive seen it is $135.

My argument about insulin (not a pharmacist), its like buying gasoline. It has one function. Insulin is a hormone not a medicine

 

with the proper management , optimal difference is just 0.04%

 

medicine
[ med-uh-sin or, esp. British, med-suhn ]
noun
any substance or substances used in treating disease or illness; medicament; remedy.

 

Wait what?

A hormone can be a medicine.

 

Sugar pill can be medicine

Believe it.

 

What is the definition of insulin Webster?

The only point im trying to make is its the same no matter the brand

 

We've discussed it before and you are not correct. There are two brands that act the same as each other but different than other short acting insulin. Novalog and Humalog are not interchangeable with other short acting insulin.

 

You never explained the difference in them besides the timing it takes for them to become effective

The only differences are dosages and times, not effectiveness

 

Kind of. Dosages and times can effect the effectiveness of controlling diabetes.

 

Deleted

 

The grim reaper at work again...

 

The ultimate effect is sugar being reduced.
You're missing the forest from the trees but ill meet you half way. Some people are more comfortable with certain types.

That still doesn't mean there should be a difference of 100 dollars in price