[Petunia111]

I can get meds at Canada and get 3 months worth for what I would get for 1 months worth. Generic and Proprietary are both cheaper than even a 60 dollar co-payment for drugs at the CVS.

I think that we, citizens of the USA are getting ripped off big time.

Please don't tell me that the drugs aren't safe. They are as good or better than what you get at your local drugstore.

For instance, 200 mg of Seroquel without insurance was over $500.00 and I got the same drug via Canada for 150.00 dollars.

How is that for a rip-off?

I'd love to write something about how we, Americans are getting ripped off, but I'd be afraid that they would try, like they did before, to stop the pipeline from Canada.

Even Medicare part D costs more in deductibles and tiers of 7.00, 60.00 and 75.00 to make it cheaper to get medicine from Canada.

I am so digusted with the situation here in the USA.

Maybe it's time for people here to take to the streets.

[pgrundy]

Well, for what it's worth I agree with you and so do most Canadians and most Europeans, and well, most of the rest of the world.

It's sickening what goes on in this country. Our medical system is rated by the World Health Organization as #27 in quality, just below Costa Rica. My friends from Britain and Canada are disgusted and appalled by our heath care system and American attitudes about health care, because they take affordable care for everyone for granted. They don't understand why we are so backward and why we put up with this.

Last year my husband had a serious illness that required multiple hospitalizations. It lasted from October 2009 through the end of March of 2010. We HAVE insurance, but since he could not work for five months we went through all our savings and maxed out the 20% copay for two deductible years (2009 and 2010). We got buried in five figures worth of medical bills this past summer. We don't have it of course, so now he has to file bankruptcy to protect his paycheck and 401k.

And that's with insurance. The last time I went off my meds it was because I couldn't afford them even with insurance, so I'm unhappy to be dependent on them again, but there it is. I am. I have to cope with it.

Yes, we need change but we aren't getting it.

[Petunia111]

Yup, we need comprehensive health care, just like the rest of the world, but we probably won't get it anytime soon.

[trixielou]

ya think lol actually my pharmacy has been good but i still know u can get stuff dirt cheap in canada went on a cruise one time & went to sydney & halifax nova scotia & people were gettin their meds filled there at the time i wasnt on them or i wud hav too just curious how much is a bottle of 90 1mg klonopin (clomazepam)?

[(JD)]

Yep and those in power allow them to. Why do you think we, the USA can provide medicines to 3rd world countries for a donation of just $1 a day??? Because it's being born on the backs of the US citizens in costs of our medicines!

There are pharms in Canada that are diluting meds though. But we had one warehouse here in Ft Lauderdale FL a few years back that was cutting doses as well. My MD didn't believe me when I said the narcotic I was taking wasn't working as well... and I changed pharmacies and went right back to needing half of what I had... the feds investigated the warehouses and found the culprits (but I'm never going back to that franchise pharm!)

[Travelinglady]

I realize drug companies have to regroup the money they spend on research, but as someone said, even with drug insurance, we still pay high rates. And my insurance has refused to pay for drugs that work best for me. Mind you, these drugs are for digestive problems, but still.....It's sad when we pay our premiums and are then told that the company will not pay for the drugs prescribed as best for us by our doctors. And believe me, my esophagus and stomach can tell the difference!

[trixielou]

JD i wuz thinkin earlier bout somethin i saw on tv about where counterfeit meds were makin their way into the pharms like a certain maker of klons i get they dont seem as strong as this other one i mentioned this to my doc one time & he didnt say a word thanks for sayin this i just thought it was all in my head!

[(JD)]

YVW actually it was a part of a nation-wide sting of several warehouses. yea, I felt weird too...and you know, you ca't argue about narcotics with your MD! Even when you're right, you can't argue anything.

I know here in FL that during one governor's time in office the insurance companies wreaked havoc on FL residents... and few things have been turned back around today... unfortunately, one of those areas of insurance was our worker comp system...and insurance companies rule...

I was quite surprised by what the pharmacies charge for the meds and what the health insurance actually pays them. How does that work? I know that doctors raise their rates so that eventually the ins companies have to raise their reimbursements...

...is that what also occurs with pharmacies? Are the pharmacy's hand's tied regarding making those who don't have any insurance pay through the nose to make up for their agreements with health ins companies?

[trixielou]

well interesting thing is out of pocket at cvs my klons r $12 but the yahoos at kmart down the road want $50 now whats up with that? & while im bein grump im soooo glad to know the DEA doesnt seem to exist in the entertainment "capitols" rules overdoses crime scenes drugs that r off the market still manage to show up in certain peoples hands my bro dates a girl who works in entertain indus & she shows up every time she visits with em ha lol amazing & i guess in these ODs the DEA is too busy gettin paid off bought or too high with their nose sniffin the evidence or shootin it up & nobody ever goes to prison like the rest of the country would whos gonna od next? maybe they should place bets on it honestly though as a former addict there comes a time u just get sick of all of it maybe if Hollywood would sober up they could put out a decent movie that doesnt go strait to dvd excuses alibis lies oh poor baby denial is a powerful thing

[trixielou]

oh & how many different aliases can a person use at one pharmacy & nothin ever is done or said its like watchin a lot of mini train wrecks & then ur just waitin on the big one to happen

[Skully]

The real rip-off is the pharmacies, not necessarily the drug companies themselves. When I lost my insurance I had to pay for my generic Adderall. I called CVS pharmacy who wanted $249 for a month supply (90). Rite Aid wanted $180 and walmart and sams club wanted $90 for them. I called a mom and pop pharmacy in the small town closest to me, and they charged me $40!!!!! I asked how he could get away with giving it so cheap and he told me a bottle of generic adderall (120 count) cost $18!!!

The major prices come from the big chain drug stores because they have such a high overhead to pay all the bills and employees. I have researched this as well and seems to be pretty much true. It is a shame.

[(JD)]

Just this week FLORIDA has cracked down on pain clinics because of the pain med prescriptions. The drive by media only publicized how our new Governor stopped action of a joint policy with other states to crack down on some abuses of those trafficking drugs, yet here is the proof that they are cracking down.

I didn't listen to the whole newspot...and will try to follow up to see if they are going after the pharmacies as well.

[scooterb]

I was recently in the hospital for two days in Pasadena, CA after having a severe relapse with my Depression and GAD. At this time I have no insurance.

When I received the itemized bill I was at first shocked and then found myself laughing hysterically. Each Ativan supplied me during my stay was billed to me at a cost of $30.50 per pill. I don't care how the hospital presents it - there is no way an Ativan cost $30.50! They prescribed 6 pills while I was there which equals $183.00. That seems a little beyond the pale. Also, I take generic Effexor and these were billed at $94.50 for my daily once a day dose of 275 mg. Again, seems a little over the top. Since I was there for two mornings I paid $378.00 for Effexor. So my medication combined for one and 1/2 days stay in a hospital came to $561.00

I won't bother you with the amount of blood work since it is not staying with the topic of inflated medication - but it rounded off to $5130.00 just for urine and blood draws and analysis.

Sincerely,
Scooterb

Does this seem out of proportion to anyone out there reading this post?

[Elana05]

Originally Posted by scooterb

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"]...at first shocked and then found myself laughing hysterically.

It makes me want to laugh and cry.

I'm currently dealing with my health insurance co. They are total snakes.

I would just like to share with you the Canadian pharmacy I used to use that had excellent meds was northwestpharamcy.com They sent me an email recently telling me that policy in the United States will soon change so that no search engine in the U.S. will be able to bring up canadian pharmacies. It's something the drug companies have made an agreement on with the major search engines. Scary times when the government allows censure of better health care options.

Love and hugs,
tara

wow, scooter, That's ridiculous! I would check to see if the hospital has any hardship scholarships or assistance in place. I know in one stay I got it all free because I qualified for county help and the hospital covered the rest.

love and hugs,
tara