Posted on 04/22/2014 9:55:34 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
In 2013 some Americans will start choosing health insurance plans offered by the new state-run health insurance exchanges. Designed to lower prices and increase competition, the exchanges will surely help millions of people access affordable care. However, health insurance plans often do not adequately cover prescription medications, and we are eager to follow the effectiveness of the exchanges as applied to prescription drug pricing.
While we hope (and believe) that increased coverage will enable more Americans to take needed medications, we believe that many will not benefit from the increased coverage. The Obama administration’s loose guidelines pertaining to prescription drugs and essential health benefits mandate that they require only one drug per class – in other words one statin (to treat high cholesterol), one proton pump inhibitors (to treat GERD), one inhaled steroid (to treat asthma), and so on, must be covered.
For many this will not be a problem. If there is only one prescription you plan on taking, you should be able to find a plan that covers it. If, however, you are taking multiple medications, things could get a bit hairy. Just because two drugs are in the same class doesn’t mean they work with the same efficacy for a given person. For example, atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) may work better for cholesterol treatment than simvastatin (generic Zocor) for one person, and vice versa for another. Imagine how difficult it would be to find an insurance plan that covers all your drugs if you are on three or four medications!
Some states plan to address this potential problem by requiring that plans offer more extensive drug coverage. As of October, 2012, an analysis of eight benchmark plans shows that they cover about 62% of drugs available in different classes.
While the health insurance exchanges are meant to provide a competitive marketplace that lowers costs, it isn’t as simple as just choosing a plan that covers the most drugs. You need to make sure it covers your drugs (in addition to other specific health benefits). We hope that the insurance exchanges will help end America’s $317 billion prescription non-adherence problem, but we fear that the pharmacy coverage under Obamacare won’t be nearly enough.
Another reason I’m grateful for having been brought in a family that believes drug-free and natural is a good thing...
It is liberating, indeed-I’m healthy and happy, too not overweight, and do physical work. The warnings that come with meds say “this medication can cause death”-if something is more harmful than the condition it treats, why would any sane person use it? But then, there is all that lawsuit money available...
There are many (un) intended consequences under Obama care that will start to bubble through the surface.
My Spouse has had 4 Back operations, has titanium rods from her neck down to her tailbone and rods going into her hips.
Her doctor had tried all different medicines, including morphine patches, to help with her incredible pain. # years ago, she stumbled on a medication that has pain relief as a side effect. It worked wonders.
This month we tried to fill her new prescription, only to be told that the medication was refused, because of the new Obama care rules.
I spoke with the pharmacy and was told that our predicament is not isolated. Many prescriptions are affected and many customers are starting to be upset even cursing at the stores. Of course, it is not their fault. It is the ACA that is causing the problem.
Just some food for thought.................
We can pay for the prescription on our own. $ 500.00 PER month. We had it filled for 3 years without a problem. So much for your Doctor to decide what is best for you. I guess beaurocrats know better?
The warnings that come with meds say “this medication can cause death”
...unlike the “accepted” (and expensive) treatments commonly used in the AMA approved hospitals. :-P
Funniest guys on FR.
Completely unconsummed or concerned with themselves and okay just as you are.
Party on Garth....
Particularly bitter medicine given the fact we are on the cusp of the genomic revolution that will allow doctors to customize drug therapies for patients.
Dangerous, like standard chemotherapy that gradually kills vital organs so that something other than cancer kills the person. The standard burn-and-poison “therapy” isn’t about getting cured, it is about treating symptoms. If you are cured, the money to big pharma goes away-a friend of mine had to get into a research program to get the new genetic therapy for cancer that is individually tailored with diet and mind/body therapy, mild side effects, etc...
a friend of mine had to get into a research program to get the new genetic therapy for cancer that is individually tailored with diet and mind/body therapy, mild side effects, etc...
Thing is, it really works. We had heard stories, but when it was verified through someone we actually know, we started paying attention. At the very least, we purchased a masticating juicer and changed our diets. We’re taking our half acre garden a LOT more seriously this year as well.
It is already being tried-and not well received because it actually seems to work-even if the treatment is expensive, money to pharma dries up if people are cured-can’t have that-my friend had to go through a research program to get it...
It is very similar-the drug/substance is designed only for that person-what has been shown to kill cells from their tumor while not killing the healthy cells around it. Each person is different-what helps one person might kill another outright, so it can’t be bottled, labeled chemo-XXX and used on just anyone. I suspect that one-size thing is what is wrong with drugs anyway-no wonder you take them at your own risk...
I take aspirin. That’s it.
I have Advil for dire emergencies, but haven’t needed it in awhile-vitamins and supplements are all I take otherwise.
I stopped eating/serving any processed items-including bleached flour and rice, processed sugar, and started baking my own whole-grain bread-when my kid was a baby, and I’ve never missed the packaged stuff-I still weigh the same as I did at 17, too-108-110. Thankfully, there is fresh-today fruit, eggs and meat to be bought or bartered here, and I do grow many of my veggies and most of my herbs.
Heh, I’ve discovered a plethora of Amish markets where I live. The quantity and types of natural foods available at many of them is simply amazing.
I confess my wife introduced me to Advil a few years ago too. I’ve always called er “Eve 2.0”. I guess with the first one it was the apple. With version 2.0 it’s Advil.
I’m glad to hear your friend is benefitting from this. An old friend is a leading figure in the genomics field. Really exciting stuff.
No Amish here, but plenty of old hippies who are rednecks-or maybe it is rednecks who are hippies-either way, most people with the room for it have livestock-I intend to soon, as well-and going in with a neighbor to buy 1/4 to 1/2 of a cow or hog from another neighbor who is going to slaughter one is common-the meat is fresh, wrapped at the locker plant and free of hormones and other drugs-doesn’t get much healthier than that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.