Interesting Health care cost article

[gailkaitschuck]

It's also important to remember that a drug company can only hold a patent on a medication for 20 years.

They must recoup 13-15 years of research and development costs plus make any profit in 5 to 7 years time.

Once the patent has run out, generic forms often pop up quickly, reducing the price for the consumer.

One estimate is that the price of simvastatin (Zocor) was to decrease by 90 percent when the patent ran out earlier this year.

Gail

[mrainey]

We must be doing something wrong.

http://www.gao.gov/cghome/hccrisis/

[sjptak]

As a Canadian all I can say is Nyaa, Nyaa

-Greg

Greg,

If I see my doctor today, and he has reason to suspect a problem, he can have me into the CT Scan within 24 hrs. Things like that in Canada are unheard of. I prefer paying my premiums.

[asianflava]

When my mother-in-law was in ICU, my wife's sister was talking to some folks from Canada in the waiting room. They were amazed how fast everything was proceeding.

[gailkaitschuck]

For those struggling with monthly medication costs....

Wal-Mart (whom we all know and many of us hate) recently started a program that charges just $4 a "fill" (a 30 day supply) for 300+ generic medications.

Not all Wal-Marts provide this (yet).

For a list of medications and states, go to www.walmart.com and highlight Pharmacy. Medications as listed by their category.

I'm not pushing Wal-Mart, just offering some options for any members on the list who may be struggling with having to pay their monthly medication costs.

Gail

[Joseph]

Wal-Mart (whom we all know and many of us hate) recently started a program that charges just $4 a "fill" (a 30 day supply) for 300+ generic medications.

I heard about that and thought I'd bring it up, but I didn't want to prod Ira TOO much...
It's coming to my area, but the only med I take is about two bucks a fill, so I doubt I'll use it.

Joseph