A possible way around high drug costs

[airbooster]

I take Depacote for an unrelated problem and SOME drug companies have a program where if you meet certian income guide lines they will send the drugs to you through your Dr. for FREE, Not all drugs are covered, but for those that are You sit down with your DR and fill out an application which he sends to the drug company, If you qualify the drug company sends your meds to him and you pick them up from him. Its worth a shot. If I had to pay for mine I could not afford it. Depacote is $180.00 for 100 tablets that last me a month. Couldn't hurt to ask your DR. airbooster:D :D :D :D

[lahdove]

Wow Airbooster,

I've never heard of this. It sure is worth checking on. Thank you for the information.

Dove

[chaimFL]

I think I heard something about this, but never heard about the actual process. That's good information! I guess kind of a shot in foot for those who think the big bad pharmaceutical companies are only out to get us.

Thanks a lot Airbooster!!!

[khorath]

The govenor of Illinois has announced that the state is looking into purchasing drugs from Canada for the state employees. Why? Because it is cheaper in Canada. This story made national news last week - I guess that technically it is illegal to do this.

I'm not anti-drug company and I don't think they are out to get us, but I do not understand how the same medicine can be so much cheaper in other countries. I know that even though it may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture some drugs, that years and years of clinical research and development costs thousands (if not millions) of dollars. They must have some way to cover their expenses. And, they are in business to turn a profit. There's nothing wrong with that.

But, why does there have to be so much of a difference that one of the United States is going to look outside of this country to purchase medicine? Maybe there is something economically that I do not understand (other than free enterprise).

[makeitgoaway]

khorath

My understanding is that in the US, pharmacies buy the drugs through a 3rd party company. That company buys the drugs from the Pharm companies, marks up the prices and then sells them to your pharmacy who then sells to the end users. I would assume that in Canada and other countries, they buy directly from the Pharm. Co.'s thus, cheaper to the end users.

This does need verification though.

[chaimFL]

Canadian government has imposed profit limits for the pharmaceutical companies that the US has not. The catch is that these companies have to have US subsidiaries in order to make a big enough profit to afford the development of new drugs. Canadian drug companies alone don't bring in enough profit to (a) be in profit and (b) have money to put into new research without US subsidaries. If Canada didn't have the profit cap it would actually lower US prices. The reason there is a bill in congress to bring in drugs form other countries is that the US doesn't have to impose the profit caps.

[makeitgoaway]

By the way airbooster,

That is great advice and I am sure you just helped a lot of people who can't afford the med.'s they truley need.

<<<<<Cyber Gold Star for Airbooster!>>>>>

[airbooster]

Thank you for the Cyber Gold Star I posted this because like me a lot of us are on low fixed incomes and can't afford their meds. If one person out there gets thir meds because of this post Then its all worth it. Glad to try and help. airbooster

[beladonna]

Great info Air,

Wish I knew about these loopholes when I was in between jobs.

:D

But, its good to know for future reference.

Thanks!