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I had a gout flareup while in Washington DC for work. It's happened before, last time (in the UK) I phoned up the freephone national number for advice, my wife

I had a gout flareup while in Washington DC for work. It's happened before, last time (in the UK) I phoned up the freephone national number for advice, my wife drove me to the local hospital, I walked (hobbled) in, had a couple of tests, was given some tablets and a presecription, and left in 15 minutes. That cost about $1.50 in gas parking would have cost another $5, but it was the weekend and parking was free. The prescription was $12 (standard price in the UK for any prescription drug or drugs, no matter what it is) In the US I phoned my insurance company, got an Uber down the road to the hospital, and walked in passed the (armed?) guards to sit in a crowded waiting room. Receptionists took my blood pressure twice, was unimpressed with my (international) insurance. 2 hours later I went into some form of casualty area and sat in a chair, had blood pressure taken a couple more times. Eventually someone came and gave me a tablet, then they wheeled in some computer trolley to take my credit card (about $900), and gave me a prescription. There was no informing me of prices up front, no choices (not that you have much of a choice when you're in hospital - for me it was a really minor thing so I actually would have had the choice to either pay or not pay). A few weeks later at home I received another bill for $2k from the hospital. I believe the bill charged for each of the times they took my blood pressure, I was never asked "would you like your blood pressure taken for $200", I wasn't asked if I wanted to sit in the comfy chair rather than the plastic chair for an extra two slips of latinum, the price wasn't up for negotiation, it just was. The difference between the two cases is night and day, the UK treatment is fast and free, the US will make you wait for hours and then charge you a fortune.

_puk 5y ago
"The prescription was $12 (standard price in the UK for any prescription drug or drugs, no matter what it is)" Just to note, in Wales all prescriptions are free. Can't speak for Scotland / NI.
- peterdn 5y ago
  Prescriptions are free in Scotland and NI too. Only England charges.
- OJFord 5y ago
  While we're noting, they are pretty good about telling you/charging you less if it's something that's available off prescription (and was prescribed just to record the advice, or particularly because non-standard dosage advised, etc.) so £12 too much. Like paracetamol say, you'd need a pretty hefty prescription to be able to buy enough all at once that £12 was a good deal. (A standard box is I think 24x500mg, good for three days (4h spacing, but 4x1g max is advised, not 6x) at max standard dosage, can buy two off the shelf for about £1, so you'd need a prescription for almost three months' worth, or a correspondingly higher dose...) Also, £12 is the one-off price, there are better subscription type rates for people with medium/long-term recurring prescriptions.

_puk 5y ago

"The prescription was $12 (standard price in the UK for any prescription drug or drugs, no matter what it is)" Just to note, in Wales all prescriptions are free. Can't speak for Scotland / NI.

peterdn 5y ago
Prescriptions are free in Scotland and NI too. Only England charges.
OJFord 5y ago
While we're noting, they are pretty good about telling you/charging you less if it's something that's available off prescription (and was prescribed just to record the advice, or particularly because non-standard dosage advised, etc.) so £12 too much. Like paracetamol say, you'd need a pretty hefty prescription to be able to buy enough all at once that £12 was a good deal. (A standard box is I think 24x500mg, good for three days (4h spacing, but 4x1g max is advised, not 6x) at max standard dosage, can buy two off the shelf for about £1, so you'd need a prescription for almost three months' worth, or a correspondingly higher dose...) Also, £12 is the one-off price, there are better subscription type rates for people with medium/long-term recurring prescriptions.