They prescribed Tamiflu, which has a copay of about that amount, and she didn’t feel it was worth it for the little benefit the medication has when a person gets the flu. Nothing more than that. It’s a highly unfortunate and unlikely death, since she was young and apparently healthy.
I used to have reasonable copays until ACA did the exact opposite of what the Democrats have always claimed to be for and gave the insurance companies carte blanche. Now, my premiums, deductibles, copay, etc. goes steadily upward ever single year. Oh, and it took a few years, but this year, no, I can no longer see my 30-year doctor.
I have millennial kids, and I was young once as well.
I never would have thought catching the flu would be terminal. And so yeah, I would have rolled the dice back then (35 years ago).
Your relevance may vary
There have been stories about people taking Tamiflu and dying right aftterwards.
What is outrageous is that Tamiflu is only available by prescription.
Once the Flu reaches CDC “widespread” status in a particular County it should automatically become OTC.
Cramming sick people together in MD’s waiting rooms just to get a Tamiflu scrip invites the public health disaster we are witnessing.
Tamiflu would have saved her. Even Amoxil could have saved her if it were bacterial pneumonia. Very sad situation.
What is Tamiflu?
I haven’t had “the flu” in quite a few years (or even a cold in the past 5 years, used to get a cold and or flu every year or twice a year).
I’d let my body fight it for 3 days and if still not getting better (or even getting notably worse) I’d get a prescription for antibotics from my doctor. His office recommended theraflu (over the counter) one year and it did give me my first relief (and first night’s sleep in 3 days) but after that first day of use it did nothing for me and I was prescribed the antibiotics.
Antibiotics seem to knock me down too (nauseous feeling) and yes I take the full prescription (don’t just stop because ‘I feel better’).