3 ms·

17 grand? That doesn't seem high to me for surviving one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind which historically has been almost 100% fatal. And is extrem

17 grand? That doesn't seem high to me for surviving one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind which historically has been almost 100% fatal. And is extremely rare to contract so there aren't any bulk discounts on the treatment. I paid half of that for braces. Actually surprised it's not way higher knowing the American medical system. > The CDC estimates that as many as 50,000 people in the U.S need this regimen to guard against rabies each year. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6613553/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6613553/

xboxnolifes 5y ago
Yeah. Maybe I'm desensitized to US healthcare costs, but $17k for this, when you already know US healthcare is stupid expensive, isn't exactly a shocking figure anymore. Not saying we can't do better, but $17k here actually sounds nice compared to stories I've already come across for the cost of getting a few stitches, or riding in an ambulance, or giving birth, etc.
- nickthemagicman 5y ago
  haha yeah. that's a good point. Its desensitization. If it's not a life crippling bankruptcy inducing, I'm like "only the price of a car? not bad!"
qayxc 5y ago
> That doesn't seem high to me for surviving one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind which historically has been almost 100% fatal. Hm. I don't know about that. Rabipur is about $75 per dose in my country, so depending on the treatment plan (5-6 doses total) $375 to $450 for the vaccines. Add ~$70 per doctor visit and you get $725 to $800 for the treatment. Immunoglobulin is ~$1200 for a typical person (exact dose depends on weight) making for a total treatment cost of ~$2000 in a country with a reasonable medical system. Granted this estimate doesn't include initial diagnosis and only includes the treatment itself, but still. A far cry from $17k and also included with insurance (no co-pay). Deadliness of the disease shouldn't factor into the price of the treatment - that'd just be extortion.
- nickthemagicman 5y ago
  Extortion. That's the perfect word for medical pricing model in America. Apparently the treatment has been around since the 1800s so it's not like they're recouping money for the development. It's just extortion.
- gcheong 5y ago
  Not only do we pay extortive costs, by doing so we help subsidize healthcare in other countries: "Americans also pay some of the highest prices in the world for this treatment. Our high costs offset steep discounts drugmakers give to poorer countries where rabies infections are more common, says Willoughby, the rabies expert at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin."
  - notdang 5y ago
    The rabies vaccine was developed in France by Pasteur.

xboxnolifes 5y ago

Yeah. Maybe I'm desensitized to US healthcare costs, but $17k for this, when you already know US healthcare is stupid expensive, isn't exactly a shocking figure anymore. Not saying we can't do better, but $17k here actually sounds nice compared to stories I've already come across for the cost of getting a few stitches, or riding in an ambulance, or giving birth, etc.

nickthemagicman 5y ago
haha yeah. that's a good point. Its desensitization. If it's not a life crippling bankruptcy inducing, I'm like "only the price of a car? not bad!"

qayxc 5y ago

> That doesn't seem high to me for surviving one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind which historically has been almost 100% fatal. Hm. I don't know about that. Rabipur is about $75 per dose in my country, so depending on the treatment plan (5-6 doses total) $375 to $450 for the vaccines. Add ~$70 per doctor visit and you get $725 to $800 for the treatment. Immunoglobulin is ~$1200 for a typical person (exact dose depends on weight) making for a total treatment cost of ~$2000 in a country with a reasonable medical system. Granted this estimate doesn't include initial diagnosis and only includes the treatment itself, but still. A far cry from $17k and also included with insurance (no co-pay). Deadliness of the disease shouldn't factor into the price of the treatment - that'd just be extortion.

nickthemagicman 5y ago
Extortion. That's the perfect word for medical pricing model in America. Apparently the treatment has been around since the 1800s so it's not like they're recouping money for the development. It's just extortion.
gcheong 5y ago
Not only do we pay extortive costs, by doing so we help subsidize healthcare in other countries: "Americans also pay some of the highest prices in the world for this treatment. Our high costs offset steep discounts drugmakers give to poorer countries where rabies infections are more common, says Willoughby, the rabies expert at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin."
- notdang 5y ago
  The rabies vaccine was developed in France by Pasteur.