Prescription Drugs

[lvstephanie]

When you are paying for drugs, you must remember that you are NOT paying just for the manufacturing costs, rather you are also paying for the intellectual property of all of the researchers (many with doctorates having 20+ years of schooling) that went into developing the drug. 90% of the compounds studied never make it to market; either failing in the development lab or failing in the clinical trials. So in order to recoup all of the development costs, the companies need to charge much more than its production costs (or sacrifice research into the new medicines of the future). Furthermore, companies need to acquire patents on promising drugs to give them a little "breathing room" before generic companies can take up the manufacturing of the drugs and sell them much closer to production costs; unfortunately the patents are acquired usually before even the clinical trials, meaning that by the time the drugs are finally brought out to the market, much of that time under the patent has already passed causing their prices to be even higher in order to recoup their research / development expenses.

In the tech industry, people don't complain when the bleeding-edge technology costs much more than the average consumer can pay for. How many people are going to run out and purchase a $40K 4K smart TV? Very few; the customers know that eventually the costs will drop to a more affordable range. However in the healthcare / pharmaceutical industry people want / need the bleeding-edge technology, yet don't want to pay the high costs required to develop them. (note, the ad-link for the TV was selected as an example; I do not get any $ from this)

[dbsaus1]

It's ridiculous that in this day and age some people have to choose between eating and buying their meds.

[6265AT99]

Well that's the problem today - prescriptions are way too costly and the co-pays are ridiculous!!!  Can't wait till we get rid of the Obamacare disaster!!!!!!!!!

[potluck6]

that is alot my husband has medicare and drug coverage 15.70 a month so his drugs are covered pretty good. like 1.00 for some drug he needs.BUT he had a back problem a couple months ago and had an xray and  and ultra sound we have to pay 1075.00 they paid Blue cross like 450.00 hate it.will pay 40.00 a month or so  and if they don't like can kiss my *bleep*.

[Nancy5]

Potluck6, can you please tell me what the name of the insurance that pays your husbands prescription plan?

[teresa3200]

I just Thank God we have Tri care. My husband is retired military, so we have great insurance. When my daughter had to leave our family plan though I now have to pay $200 a month to keep her insured on it til she turns 26.

[dogsleash]

I feal like its a big rip off. I wish there was a way for people to get lower prices.

[countrygirl12]

Wow, your prescriptions sure do cost a lot. It is a real shame that healthcare in general is so expensive in this country. It seems like the government should be able to figure out how to insure everybody without everything being so darned expensive.

The government needs to stay the aighilhfal out of it!  THEY are the biggest problem this country has.  And the doctors and everyone else in the medical profession want the big bucks.  People don't want to die.  There fore they will continue to charge more and more.  : (

[countrygirl12]

It's ridiculous that in this day and age some people have to choose between eating and buying their meds.

I think it is hilarious that the people you hear saying that are all over weight and they also have their meds.  The majority of the people are drawing food stamps and also receiving government insurance.  Sad but it's the truth.  The ones who truly can't afford medical or food - you never hear about them.  They don't advertise it.

[debidoo]

It is a shame that with insurance you had to even pay that much but it is a fact - I take a lot of prescriptions and probably spend $300 or more through the month but what are you going to do? 

[Kimdud22]

That is outrageous. I cant believe some things this government does. Makes no sense.

[melissajh44]

Wow, that's so much. This pharma companies are ridiculous.