Insulin prices

[NPTim]

I just finished watching a pbs documentary on diabetes. I know, that was my first mistake. At least they didn’t blame this entirely on President Trump, but they also did give him any credit for reducing the price of this medication needed to maintain life. They did play the race card effortlessly though. Anyway, and I knew this going in, but the price of insulin is ridiculous.

I remember being able to walk into a wally world and buying a vial, 10 mL, 10 years ago, and paying $26. Just now, on good Rx, the cheapest I found was $107, and it may not be appropriate for the patient. Lantus, a twenty year old long acting insulin, so it should be off patent. Now it is $700+ for one pack of pens with 15 mL total. I have prescribed 2-3 packs a month for one patient.

Now, president potatohead removed the restraints to keep insulin affordable. I am against socialist medicine, and I am for free market capitalism. But, for this medication, due to the price, the manufacturers need to be brought to heel. Maybe the three manufacturers need to be broken up under antitrust laws.

When I worked at the homeless clinic, the county pharmacy got the pen syringes for, literally, pennies each. While the pen needles were where the real profits were made. A box of 100 pen needles were $60.

As to race, I’d be interested what the diabetes rate was when food stamps transitioned to EBT and a few years later.

[Dric902]

What effect do you think Insurance regulation has on the price?

genuine question.

 

.

[railfancwb]

3 hours ago, Dric902 said:

What effect do you think Insurance regulation has on the price?

genuine question.

 

.

The more competition is restricted the higher prices can go. This is true whether the restriction is due to government action or “voluntary” restrictions. 

[NPTim]

2 hours ago, railfancwb said:

The more competition is restricted the higher prices can go. This is true whether the restriction is due to government action or “voluntary” restrictions. 

Also, the less competition the higher prices can go.

[LostinTexas]

No reason for almost every insulin used today to be expensive, much less that expensive. They have you right where they want you and know it. Same with statins, over prescribed, over used, and very misunderstood, in most cases. Don't think that is out of line? AHA used to say this straight out. It changed some years ago. I spent days on the site when I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. It really is, very high, too all the statins I tried give me muscle aches and foggy brain. Both were undesirable effects. Last dr told me to keep taking them ans see if it stopped, but nope, if is hitting skeletal muscle it is dong the same to heart. He stopped arguing at that point.

My BP medicine is $300 fro a thirty day supply if I try to buy it outright. I get an EOB every 3 months from my insurance carrier and they pay 28¢ or within a few pennies less for a 90 day supply. Think pricing is out of control? I know the companies are in business to make money and think that is a fantastic thing, but this seems like outright gouging. If they can make some sort of profit at less than 30¢ per 90, and I know they can because they wouldn't negotiate it that low if they couldn't, then what is up?

Edited March 19, 2021 by LostinTexas

[Mrs.Cicero]

Same with epinephrine..  Compare the price for a 2 pack of the damn pens (which contains 2 pens with .3 ml of the drug in each one) at $400. https://www.medexsupply.com/needles-syringes-syringes-epinephrine-auto-injector-syringe-0-3mg-adult-2-pk-x_pid-101867.html?pid=101867&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=S%26O | Medex | Medium | Primary | V3&utm_term=4579053616869196&utm_content=GSAPI 5cc6c1ad04df7   or the child version with .15 ml per pen at $650 for a 2 pack here https://www.medexsupply.com/needles-syringes-syringes-epinephrine-auto-inject-jr-0-15-mg-2-pk-similar-to-epipen--x_pid-98922.html?pid=98922&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=S%26O | High Moshe Brands&utm_term=4579878247454625&utm_content=GSAPI 56e05a7b270f1.  to the price for the 50ml bottle  ($35) the vet uses on animals. https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=27a43c2c-2282-47a9-a24d-f7696b019e96 It's obviously NOT the cost of the medication that is driving the price.

 

 

[LostinTexas]

1 hour ago, Mrs.Cicero said:

Same with epinephrine..  Compare the price for a 2 pack of the damn pens (which contains 2 pens with .3 ml of the drug in each one) at $400. https://www.medexsupply.com/needles-syringes-syringes-epinephrine-auto-injector-syringe-0-3mg-adult-2-pk-x_pid-101867.html?pid=101867&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=S%26O | Medex | Medium | Primary | V3&utm_term=4579053616869196&utm_content=GSAPI 5cc6c1ad04df7   or the child version with .15 ml per pen at $650 for a 2 pack here https://www.medexsupply.com/needles-syringes-syringes-epinephrine-auto-inject-jr-0-15-mg-2-pk-similar-to-epipen--x_pid-98922.html?pid=98922&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=S%26O | High Moshe Brands&utm_term=4579878247454625&utm_content=GSAPI 56e05a7b270f1.  to the price for the 50ml bottle  ($35) the vet uses on animals. https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=27a43c2c-2282-47a9-a24d-f7696b019e96 It's obviously NOT the cost of the medication that is driving the price.

 

 

It is insane, but for the epi pen, you are paying for the pen, not the medicine. That auto injector is very inexpensive. The one that holds the patent was driving prices. A second company came out with one at half the price, maybe less, but that is still nuts. Mylan has spent a fortune of lawyers and keeping it off the market. TEVA PHARMS USA, as far as I know it still isn't on the market, but has been approved.