This is the second biggest scam I have experienced in my long lifetime. I'm posting it for my friends/ Patriots benefit.
It deals with the eyes. In my case, at my advanced age, in perfect health, alas it happens. My ocular pressure climbed to 24. 20 is normal. My Ophthalmologist monitored it for years but alas this summer it ascended to 26 and she said she could no longer sit there. She had to take action. AND SHE DID. She prescribed eye drops, 1 to 2 drops each night before bedtime, for the rest of my life !!!!??? After three weeks she monitored it and it had dropped to 19. Below normal. The medication worked - Great.
So? To explain when I took her prescription to TARGET, a big National chain similar to Wal-Mart, they said, that will be $90. That's my co-pay for a 30m day supply. The medications costs probably $160 to $180 for a tiny bottle. My HMO pays the bulk less their discount.
I asked the pharmacy where they were getting the $90 from and they said it's a 52 day supply. I replied that my prescription was for a 30 day supply.
I have the booklets from my insurance company listing drugs, formulary's and prices. This medication is listed in the booklet as tier three as $45 for 30 days. 90m days at 3 times $45= $135. That's $543 annually. It is called Lumigan.
There is a "generic" drug listed also called Latanoprost. It is tier two. Cost by mail, order $10 per month or $15 for a 3 month supply!!! That's $60 annually.
Latanaprost isn't exactly a true similar generic. It has some slightly different ingredients. However, according to research and the pharmacists, it was the "gold standard" and worked just as well as Lumigan and in some cases better. Lanatroprost patent expired in 2011. Lumigans patent doesn't expire until August 19, 2014. The pharmaceutical company's recover research and development and profits during patent. Lumigan sold $250 million last year.
Now we move on to application. The Doctor prescribed 1 to 2 drops per night. So now the thorny issue is how many drops are there in a bottle ? The bottles are stipulated as two sizes, 2.5 milliliters and 7.5 milliliters. So we have two units of measure - drops and milliliters. How to reconcile and compare costs " Good question, flaky answer unfortunately.
Here is a photo of the two tiny bottles, 2.5 and 7.5 ML.
http://images2.snapfish.com/23232323...78423%3Bot1lsi
A ball point pen has been included to gauge size and perspective.
Unfortunately my Doctor apparently ignored my request for the more economical medication Latanaprost and wrote the prescription to the mail order supplier Express Scripts. I received the first supply/shipment which cost me $112 for a 90 day supply instead of the other costing $18 for 3 months.
I spoke to Express Scripts three times to thrash this all out.
Not to belabor this but I am giving you all, my friends, a heads up. Look out. You will be screwed over by Obamacare, by your Doctor and by your pharmacy. Look. Pay attention. They will take you to the cleaners if you are not careful.