Montrose - Daily Press

Citizen

 Okay, as an  elderly citizen who has caught either the regular flu or the "swine flu" I called my Dr. like a normal person would do. My dr stated he called in a prescription to Walmart and I need to take it for 10 days. If I have the H1N1 flu it will make it go away, if I have the regular flu it will make it go away and protect me from H1N1 till the shots come out. I unsuspectingly go to Walmart to pick up my 20 pill prescription and guess what.. $188.36 for 20 pills!!! wow! I was behind another person from a local well known organization who definately has good insurance considering where they work and she still paid about 40 dollars for it!  No wonder people are dying. I know a lot of people that can't fork over 200 dollars for twenty pills. Why is it we are trying to get rich off a deadly illness?

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Comments

Just sayin wrote on Oct 16, 2009 8:12 PM:

" hollycast....

As someone with a family member who works in R&D for a bio med company, I stand by my over a billion figure. Also, this is America, and we are allowed to make more than what it costs to make a product. It's called capitalism. But don't worry, Obama is out to destroy that, and then there will not be any companies developing new drugs. We all will suffer. "




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Chickenman wrote on Oct 16, 2009 3:58 PM:

" In 16 states and counting,prescribed drugs now kill more people than auto accidents do, accordingto the CDC

Experts said the startling shift reflects two opposite trends: Driving is becoming safer, and the legal and illegal use of powerful prescription painkillers is on the rise
65 million and we get this? Its all about profit POCM "




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hollycast wrote on Oct 16, 2009 2:03 AM:

" to just sayin- example mizer spent 65 million dollars over 5 years to develop male enhancement medication. this medication is predicted to generate 1 billion dollars in sales annually. if mizer holds a patent for 20 years .... i think the cost is made up. and to correct you the average cost to develop a NEW drug is 500 million. regardless the profit pharmaceutical companies make more than makes up for the cost of research and development!! "




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Just sayin wrote on Oct 12, 2009 5:34 PM:

" Alley....

Elderly receive retirement from SSA. SSI (Supplemental Security Insurance) is not a retirement benefit. It is a welfare program administered through Social Security. To qualify you must be low income and would also qualify for Medicaid, on top of Medicare, and this would pay. Yes, $200 is alot of money, especially when it is unexpected. When our vehicles break down, and that is usually also unexpected, we don't expect someone else to pick up the tab of repairing them. "




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Alley wrote on Oct 12, 2009 12:57 PM:

" I completely agree with you. My advice to you & everyone in the situation, is to call all the pharmacies in town, some will charge a lot less than others. And also find out who the maker of the drug is, and get their number from your pharmisist or Doctor. Some comapnies will help out people who can't afford their perscription. You may even ask your doctor if they have sample of the drug that they can give you. "




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Alley wrote on Oct 12, 2009 12:22 PM:

" The person who said that the people complaining about not being able to pay for meds is spending it on cell phones, Sat/TV, video games, and smoking obviosily has never had health problem, has to much money, or has the best insurance. Beings this person is "elderly"
there only source of income is S.S.I. which means they are trying to decide between medicine and food. "




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Freedom wrote on Oct 12, 2009 12:02 PM:

" People expect to much from government and there are lazy people that don't work and $200 is worth saving your life, however, there are a lot of unemployed people looking for jobs. What if they don't have an extra $200 laying around? Furthermore, a doctor should not call in a prescription wthout seeing the patient. Drug companies do charge ridiculous prices. They have to support giving thousands of free samples to doctor offices. My advice is to find a doctor's office that stockpile samples. I wonder how many samples expire and get thrown away? "




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jt wrote on Oct 12, 2009 9:41 AM:

" Its called free enterprises or something like that. If you have the money or the job which helps suppliy the insurance , you're good, if not your out of luck. That's the American health care system for you. "




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Just Saying wrote on Oct 12, 2009 12:39 AM:

" Assuming that swine flu or seasonal flu isn't something you get on a regular basis, and get a prescription for it on a regular basis, I would certainly question a doctor who gave you a prescription without seeing you in person. Find a new doctor, this one can't be bothered to find out what is actually wrong with you. "




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Overit wrote on Oct 11, 2009 6:15 PM:

" I am willing to bet you could have gotten that same prescription in Canada for a fraction of the cost. Actually, not just Canada, almost any other country. Americans have been taken advantage of for far too long by these drug companies. It's not about wanting everything for free. It's about being sick of being taken advantage of.

Feel better. "




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response to citizen wrote on Oct 10, 2009 9:15 AM:

" I hope those who say they have no money for these meds/insurance don't have cell phones, cable/sat TV, don't smoke, have video games at home, or other non-essentials taking up the money they should be spending on their own health care. "




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A thought wrote on Oct 9, 2009 11:20 PM:

" Did you ever think of using something other than prescription drugs? I use Colloidal Silver for both virual and bacterial infections. I carry it in my vehicle first aid kit. It's cheap, and very effective. No prescription necessary. How you recover quickly! "




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Momof3 wrote on Oct 9, 2009 7:47 PM:

" One of my children tested positive for H1N1 and the same evening we came home from the ER my other child got sick, the dr. called in a prescription for both children and the next day when I picked up the medication I too was surprised at the amount. Luckily I have decent insurance, but I still paid $100 for the meds. Be prepared to pay! This flu will be hitting schools, if it hasn't already.
My child had to have gotten it from somewhere!
I am happy to say they have both recovered. "




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cruiser wrote on Oct 9, 2009 5:18 PM:

" That same medicine can probably be purchased in Canada for about half what you paid and in Mexico for about 1/4th what Wal Mart charged you. Yes medicine cost to develop but producers try to get rich as soon as possible. "




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So sad wrote on Oct 9, 2009 4:57 PM:

" It's called Darwinism "




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Josh wrote on Oct 9, 2009 4:48 PM:

" Citizen: Nobody ever said $200 is not a lot of money. What we are saying is if only $200 gets you pills that save your life, then you have nothing to complain about. Think of a cancer patient that spends upwards of a million dollars fighting to stay alive and then dies. Do you think they would have gladly paid only $200 to have gotten better in a week or two? Put things in perspective. For you life, $200 is NOTHING! "




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Citizen wrote on Oct 9, 2009 2:26 PM:

" hmmm wrote on Oct 8, 2009 2:33 PM:

" What on earth is the prescription name? ":::: It is called "tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate)" Thank you all for wishing me better.. and to all of those who think two hundred dollars isn't much, I'm glad you don't have finnicial problems like the rest of us! "




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Allen wrote on Oct 9, 2009 2:14 PM:

" OldGrannyLady,

Yes, some people should have to work for a living and others should just get to live off others! I seriously hope that is not what you are teaching your grandkids. Sad, sad, sad!

Tax subsidies don't pay for all the employees and research it takes to develop drugs. So, you think employees should work for free and companies should spend billions and then you (who did nothing) should get drugs to save your life for free? "




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OldGrannyLady wrote on Oct 9, 2009 10:40 AM:

" Citizen, I hope you're feeling better now. That is, if the cost of your rx didn't give you a heart attack.

I think "Concerned" should have gone to get your rx for you and "Montrose Mary" should have paid for it, since she obviously has an upscale lifestyle.

For what American Drug Companies are given in tax dollar subsidies you should have gotten the medication free or at the extremely reduced rate meds are sold for in every country but ours. "




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Reality wrote on Oct 8, 2009 9:05 PM:

" I hope you start to feel better! But the others are correct. Too many people in the country just expect others to take care of them. Creating drugs costs a lot of money. Why would any company spend BILLIONS on creating drugs to save lives if in return they (and all their employees) went broke and lost their jobs because you expect them to give it to you for free? And if a couple hundred dollars saves your life, it will be the best $200 you've ever spent! "




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patrick wrote on Oct 8, 2009 8:54 PM:

" so i should have read all five articles before i spoke.one website did point out that taking five consecutive yearly flu shots increases your chance of developing alzheimers, but it did not supply their source but did recognize that there is still much needed research to give plausible proof. "




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patrick wrote on Oct 8, 2009 8:40 PM:

" Where did you get the information that flu shots cause alzheimers. Thats kind of funny because the Alzheimers assosiciation reports exactly the opposite! before you blog you should actually do some research instead of listening to who ever you heard that from. i dont like the ideas of shots and over medicating because im sure its bad for you, but next time think then type "




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Just me wrote on Oct 8, 2009 8:33 PM:

" Also Montrose Mary, everyone doesnt expect to have free health care but when a trip to the doctor and prescription costs over $200 and you only make 1,078 per month it is very hard to make it the rest of the month. Many people have suffered huge tragedies in their life and are in a financial hole that they tried very hard to avoid. "




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Just me wrote on Oct 8, 2009 8:29 PM:

" Montrose Mary, I am so glad you can afford your prescriptions and havent had any bad financial crisis in your life such as your spouse suddenly dying and being struck with a major long term illness yourself so that you are uninsuranble through personal health insurance. "




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just a though wrote on Oct 8, 2009 6:53 PM:

" They are worth the cost only when they are truly necessary. Be careful not to jump on the "panic wagon"!! "




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just a thought wrote on Oct 8, 2009 6:52 PM:

" As an "elderly citizen", odds are that it's probably not likely the swine flu to begin with. My niece was given the same advice. As a health care worker, I encouraged her to wait another 24 hours. If her symptoms were improving we would know that it was likely just the typical flu. Low and behold...it was that indeed. The $200.00 script was not necessary. Dr.'s are avoiding having flu like symptoms in the office, so this is their alternative. We as individuals need to decide when to fill these expensive RX. "




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Just Sayin wrote on Oct 8, 2009 6:06 PM:

" Citizen.....

Are you aware that if you are really poor that your doctor can submit to the drug manufacture, and they will give you a drug for free? Do you realize that it takes about $1 billion for a drug to go through research, development, testing, etc., before it is approved by the FDA, and gets to the market? Where do you think that money comes from? Someone has to pay for the cost of that. P.S. Avoid the swine flu vaccine. It can contibute to the cause of alzheimers. "




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hmmm wrote on Oct 8, 2009 2:33 PM:

" What on earth is the prescription name? "




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Mark wrote on Oct 8, 2009 1:11 PM:

" The worst part about it is that the pills will probably kill you before the flu. "




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Josh wrote on Oct 8, 2009 12:15 PM:

" Where I understand the price is high, you also have to remember it takes money to research and develop drugs. If companies were not allowed to make their money back (and a profit of course), why would they ever create drugs to treat people? The answer is, they would not and you would be willing to pay any amount of money for a pill that could save your life. "




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Chickenman wrote on Oct 8, 2009 9:20 AM:

" Citizen, Hope you get to feeling better, sooner than later...Were all being ripped off by big pharma. typcally flu is gone in 10 days anyway so what good will it do? Most flu realted deaths are from folks who already have other health reralted issues and immune systems are compromised to begin with, so here I go again prevention thru nutrition is key....rest up hope you fell beter and let us know.....POCM "




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Montrose Mary wrote on Oct 8, 2009 6:42 AM:

" If $188.36 is going to affect your lifestyle then you are in financial trouble. Do you think health insurance should be free? That's the problem with the health care in this country. People want FREE health insurance. It should only cover major expenses. "




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Concerned wrote on Oct 8, 2009 6:33 AM:

" If something is going to make me feel better and possibly save my life if things were to get really bad I could care less what it costs. What I would like to know is why were you in Wal-Mart possibly passing it on to other people. Stay home and have someone pickup you meds. "




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