3 ms·

Perhaps that's the part we really need to fix. I mean at least at the low end of the wealth spectrum it shouldn't cost like three hundred dollars to go to a doc

by m0zg 8y ago

Perhaps that's the part we really need to fix. I mean at least at the low end of the wealth spectrum it shouldn't cost like three hundred dollars to go to a doctor to prescribe a $10/mo drug. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death, and it sounds to me like we could get a lot of bang for the buck, statistically speaking, by deregulating this and making prescribing blood pressure meds a "grocery store doctor" thing that doesn't cost much at all. As far as I can tell, the selection of drugs is really narrow for most people. I do agree it's tragic if someone who could be taking care of their hypertension can't do so just because doctors cost so much. I havent heard much about people dying due to lacking access to insulin, though, which leads me to conclude that it can be obtained even by those who don't have the means to pay the full price.

redler 8y ago
It's happening. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-fights-for-lower-insulin-prices-after-sons-tragic-death/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-fights-for-lower-insulin... https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/01/641615877/insulins-high-cost-leads-to-lethal-rationing https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/01/6416158...
- m0zg 8y ago
  30.3 million people in the US have diabetes. Not all of them need insulin, but even those that do are millions of people, and lots of them are poor. It'd be a major cause of death if they couldn't get insulin. This means they are getting it somehow.
  - Scoundreller 8y ago
    Most Type1 insulin-dependent diabetics start young, so it’s in the manufacturer’s interest to get you on their insulin for free in hopes that you get coverage later in life. For type 2 diabetics, most are in or will be covered by Part D, so the manufacturers do the same thing. But for a one-off treatment for those the middle aged, like the new HepC treatments, manufacturers don’t have the same incentives.

by m0zg 8y ago

redler 8y ago

It's happening. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-fights-for-lower-insulin-prices-after-sons-tragic-death/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-fights-for-lower-insulin... https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/01/641615877/insulins-high-cost-leads-to-lethal-rationing https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/01/6416158...

m0zg 8y ago
30.3 million people in the US have diabetes. Not all of them need insulin, but even those that do are millions of people, and lots of them are poor. It'd be a major cause of death if they couldn't get insulin. This means they are getting it somehow.
- Scoundreller 8y ago
  Most Type1 insulin-dependent diabetics start young, so it’s in the manufacturer’s interest to get you on their insulin for free in hopes that you get coverage later in life. For type 2 diabetics, most are in or will be covered by Part D, so the manufacturers do the same thing. But for a one-off treatment for those the middle aged, like the new HepC treatments, manufacturers don’t have the same incentives.