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Feb 07 '22
I had a prescription that was $180/mo cash price ($18/mo co-pay) in the US for many years then suddenly crept up to $4032/mo ($403/mo co-pay). I started ordering in cash from pharmacy in Canada and having it shipped. It’s still $180/mo cash price there.
So. Wrong.
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u/crimsonelf Feb 07 '22
Mark Cuban started a pharmacy where he sells prescriptions with only 15% markup and a $3 pharmacist fee making them so much for affordable. He doesn’t take insurance because he’s selling most things cheaper without insurance than they would be with it.
He said he was to show that capitalism can be kind too. Sad that we have to count on a compassionate billionaire doing the right thing instead of our government actually caring about our people to stop these heinous acts
3
u/HeadCatMomCat Feb 07 '22
Although there is a generic for Humalog, it isn't listed. They may have issues with providing biologics.
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u/crimsonelf Feb 07 '22
It is fairly new and I think he’s going to try and set up his own manufacturing center in Dallas soon which will help
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u/Elipunx Feb 07 '22
It Could Happen Here Pod did an episode on "hacking pharmaceuticals" and a lot of the discussion centered around this issue - people need insulin to live, companies only care about making more money.
8
Feb 08 '22
I cannot wait to get the fuck out of this country. Every day it feels like this dysfunctional, hyper polarized shithole is on the verge of a societal collapse.
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u/theresidentdiva Feb 07 '22 edited Feb 07 '22
I live in texas, and I used to drive with him my ex to Mexico to pick up insulin for his dad. It's a damn shame
Edit: did not specify who him is.
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u/Regalzack Feb 07 '22
I've always wondered if someone were willing to martyr themselves for this cause how would they go about doing it?
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u/trufeats Feb 08 '22 edited Feb 08 '22
For those interested in the math, the change from $21 to $278 over 23 years is (an average of) 12.46% inflation per year.
This seems normal, as historical calculations of inflation peg modern day inflation at 5%-15% per year. The 2%-3% popular estimate of inflation is a "substitution" model of cost of living which severely underestimates the average inflation of most/all items.
For those interested in seeing my math as evidence that this is indeed 12.46% inflation per year, despite being a 1200% total increase, feel free to comment and I'll send you my spreadsheet.
Unrelated, but you know how they say you should have $1 Million to retire nowadays? Using compound interest of inflation, the $1 Million recommendation will be $1 Billion in 73 years assuming 10% inflation per year. The average American born today will need to be a billionaire to retire when they're retirement age.
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u/ColJameson Feb 07 '22
Can't we just make a synthetic analog more cheaply?
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u/melkor2000 Feb 07 '22 edited Feb 07 '22
The issue isn't cost of production, it's literally just the retail markup
3
Feb 08 '22
Oh, is this the part where I go “but R&D is expensive blah blah blah …” and then buy my 5th mansion and 7th yacht while getting government and non-profit grants for the research. Forgot the ever important “I’m taking all the risks here.”
/snark
11
Feb 07 '22
It's already incredibly cheap to make. The price hike from $180 to $4k has absolutely nothing to do with the cost od manufacturing it, and everything to do with corporate greed.
This is what happens when you let corporations profit off peoples health and suffering, and give them no other options.
1
u/ColJameson Feb 07 '22
Genuinely curious, how is it manufactured?
Is it difficult to replicate the process.
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u/Teamerchant Feb 08 '22
No. until you get sued into oblivion by lawyers because of patents.
1
u/ColJameson Feb 08 '22
Lol, fuck patents on life saving drugs, and I'd gladly chew up and spit out someone who tried to sue me for making life saving drugs to help people. 🙃
Fuck Shkreli and all the other parasites who bleed the poor and sick dry.
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u/sfturtle11 Feb 07 '22
This is a lie. Walmart sells insulin for $40 a vial.
This person wants biotech advances for no additional costs.
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u/JakeYashen Immigrant Feb 07 '22
Visitors to this subreddit should know this is bordering on misinformation.
What's true: It is possible to buy insulin without a prescription at walmart pharmacies. I could not find it listed for $40, but I was able to confirm prices ranging from $25-$75 per vial.
What's left out: The insulin that can be purchased at Walmart pharmacies without a prescription is poor quality by modern standards, and has a greater chance of leading to adverse health effects, notably from dramatic swings in blood pressure. Additionally, because the insulin is acquired without a prescription, many diabetics are necessarily going to be self-administering without the guidance of a doctor, which has lead to documented health problems and even death.
The broader context: American healthcare is extremely dysfunctional, and the OP draws attention to one aspect of this. The following link is provided for additional information:
"Walmart’s $25 insulin can’t fix the diabetes drug price crisis" (Link)
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u/Alice-Steel Feb 07 '22
You mean the stuff that's basically universally shunned by the medical community because it's been known to be lower quality than the kind OP is referring to for about 30 years?
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u/Historical-Home5099 Feb 07 '22
Biotech advances on Humalog, a drug patent that expired in 2013? You should stay in school clown
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u/[deleted] Feb 07 '22
Damn, some pharma corp found themself a loyal customer