More insurance questions

[Irulan]

RIDICULOUS prices we are charged for medication,

Here's an interesting example, my recent experience.

I take a daily medication that is, and has never been covered by any insurance that we've had. I've mail-ordered from a legitimate Canadian pharmacy for years, as the cost has been 1/3 of what I would pay out of pocket down here.

My dosage was changed recently, and just for grins I called around locally to see what the price was for a month supply. Savon, $325. Rite Aid, $328. Fred Meyer, $325. WalMart, $308. Canada, $129/a month. Then I had a flash and called Costco. $28/month. I went up to the pharmacy manager to make sure I had heard right. Yep, that's correct. I was expecting the price to be somewhat lower, but 92% lower? No one seems to have an explanation for the huge price disparity, and they were willing to match it with documentation.... but I just don't get it, and the whole thing smacks of price fixing or some sort of scam on the consumer to me.

[Biciclista]

wow, maybe i ought to look into that costco thing for my husband's prescription!
that's nothing short of miraculous.

[snowroo]

Totally, health care in canada is not "free". It's covered by taxes we pay. A bmt cost about 400,000 in the US. I think we got a good deal. It's not perfect here. We have big waits.

What I am sad to hear is that insurance companies dictate the care the person gets, not the doctor. That's just backwards.