Just back in the apartment after almost loosing control at the pharmacy. The poor sales clerk must have thought I was going to punch someone - but Big Pharma was out of reach. My infrequent diaries now have a unifying theme, and it is how we treat those of us with chronic medical conditions in the good old USA.
Just to recap the situation; fifty-eight year old Type I diabetic, diagnosed in the late sixties, and unemployed. I go through at least one vial of Humalin N insulin per month, and two vials of Humalin R. Today I walked up to the pharmacy counter to buy a vial of Humalin N and was told the final price would be $67.99. My last insulin purchase in November, the same vial of insulin cost $52.89. Guess the folks at Eli Lily need that $15.10 more than I do. The insulin has not changed, there are no new costs in growing human genome insulin in a vat, packaging it, and distributing it to the people who NEED that medication every day for the rest of their lives.
Insulin is not negotiable. Neither are glucose test strips, but I am waiting for their New Year's prices to go up as well. A friend of mine who is a counselor here in Oregon recently gave me contact information for a prescription assistance program run by the pharmaceutical companies. As I was working through the online prompts to determine if my insulin was offered on Eli Lily's program, their offer said they could provide the insulin "virtually free" - as long as they could send a four-month supply to the prescribing physician's office for them to dispense. I have not had a doctor since 2007 when I was laid off. How can I afford a doctor office visit if I can't afford the medicine?
I do not understand how drug companies can raise the price of their product with no justification aside from their own needs to please the shareholders. It is particularly hard for people who have no access to insurance without employment. Where is the FDA? I know that the Affordable Care Act will eventually help those with pre-existing conditions, but it is the here and now that hurts the most.