3 ms·
It doesn't surprise me. I did several weeks of physical therapy for back pain. The PT suggested that I get a TENS Unit for pain. She said, "It costs about $800
by AdmiralAsshat 9y ago
It doesn't surprise me.
I did several weeks of physical therapy for back pain. The PT suggested that I get a TENS Unit for pain. She said, "It costs about $800, but don't worry, your insurance will cover it with no copay to you."
Additionally, the pad refills were free and paid by insurance (they stop being adhesive after so many uses). And so for several months I had sales rep calling me once every few weeks, asking if I needed more pads. Again, it cost me nothing, so I'm sure this is a useful service for senior citizens who otherwise might run out--but I'm also positive that this guy was massively upselling the stuff to insurance, or he would not have been so persistent.
I spoke later to my parents, who also had one, and asked them where they got theirs. They said they paid about $50 at Wal-Mart. A cursory look on Amazon reveals similar pricing.[0]
I don't care how much more effective the professional-grade one is, I doubt it could be 20x more effective, and yet it is 20x the price.
[0]https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tens+unit https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3...
- tzs 9y agoPrescription drugs are often similar. I don't know how much the pharmacy charges the insurance company for these drugs, but on my insurance I had to pay a $20 copay for metformin, simvastatin, and carvedilol. Then I found that if I went to Walmart I could buy metformin and carvedilol for $4 each, and I could get simvastatin for $8.50 if I used a GoodRx coupon. I was also paying a $20 copay for a 120x50mcg bottle of fluticasone propionate nasal spray. I have since found out that I can buy a 5 bottle pack for $35 from Amazon, with no involvement from insurance.
- ghaff 9y agoI don't know about your pharmacy but at my (major chain) pharmacy, if a drug price is less than the co-pay, I just pay the price. (Which is I assume the same situation as with Walmart.)
- cookiecaper 9y agoWithout an external mandate to keep the price low, this should only happen rarely, because the chain will realize that they're underpricing the drug. If your copay is $10 and they sell it retail for $5, they'll make some kind of differentiation in the labeling to effect price segmentation and maximize the profit from each group of potential shoppers. That way, they'll be able to bill your insurance co $30, you'll pay your $10 copay, and they won't legally be allowed to sell you the cheaper $5 version since it will no longer fit the doctor's Rx. They may keep a few things underpriced so that they can have pharmacists offer the cheaper version and create the impulse/illusion that the chain is looking out for their best interest.
- ghaff 9y agoAll I can say is that's not my experience. At the large chain pharmacy I use, all of my regular generic prescriptions are priced under my modest co-pay. Prescription medications may not be the most competitive market but enough people are aware of price for ongoing medications that they will switch if a given pharmacy is consistently high.
- gehwartzen 9y agoOne of the perverse ramifications of a lot of heathcare plans is that the Deductible and Max-Out of Pocket limit disincentivises the consumer to buy the cheaper retail product. I could save my insurance money by buying a drug or medical device cheaper but would be screwing myself because non of that would count towards my out of pocket limit.