The cost of medicines in the USA and here

[Carl_Manchester]

Macski said:

Read most of this thread.

Don't understand if the US have introduced pricing alligment with Canada how are drug prices cheaper there then in the USA.

Also does it matter, the USA and EU are set to sign a trade agreement one day so either the EU will have to accept US rules or the USA will have to accept EU rules?

It is currently illegal to mass-import drugs from Canada to the USA. The USA will remain a protected market until a president signs an executive order.

Specifically in terms of Canada, I am not sure that open trade for medicines result would be good for Canadian's without the Europeans also being included as the Americans would then buy all the Canadians stock and spike their prices

[Mrr T]

Carl_Manchester said:

Macski said:

Read most of this thread.

Don't understand if the US have introduced pricing alligment with Canada how are drug prices cheaper there then in the USA.

Also does it matter, the USA and EU are set to sign a trade agreement one day so either the EU will have to accept US rules or the USA will have to accept EU rules?

It is currently illegal to mass-import drugs from Canada to the USA. The USA will remain a protected market until a president signs an executive order.

Specifically in terms of Canada, I am not sure that open trade for medicines result would be good for Canadian's without the Europeans also being included as the Americans would then buy all the Canadians stock and spike their prices

It's more complex than that. Canada has a universal healthcare system. Differant structure to the NHS but like the NHS a monopoly buyer. This allows them to negotiate cheaper prices on some drugs. Trumps plan seems to be to expect the Canadian government to allow its healthcare system to buy drugs at the lower prices from American drug companies and sell them to US medical boards.

Remember the trump slogan America First.

It would be funny if it was not true.

[Countdown]

dandarez said:

Next occasion, inguinal hernia. NHS hospital. Got in reasonably quick. Outside op theatre awaiting Gen. Anaesthetic, my BP went sky high (long story).

So basically you were reading NP&E whilst waiting outside the Op Theatre...?

[Carl_Manchester]

Mrr T said:

Remember the trump slogan America First.

It would be funny if it was not true.

It would make sense to sign the executive order next year to neutralise any democrat campaign leadership on the issue.

[Halb]

Countdown said:

So basically you were reading NP&E whilst waiting outside the Op Theatre...?

and frantically posting knowing a PHer.

[The Moose]

Halb said:

The Moose said:

That article is from nearly 12 years ago. Before the Affordable Care Act was signed into law...

...or am I missing something?

The situation is now 1 in 10, not 1 in 5, thanks to Obama, but even some of that 90% "Now the bigger issue seems to be that many people with insurance are struggling to pay their deductibles and copays."
https://www.statnews.com/2019/07/28/health-system-...

Edited by Halb on Sunday 8th December 11:18

Who's to blame when people are unable to budget and plan for an unexpected emergency as small as $500?

[The Moose]

gregs656 said:

The Moose said:

What data are you drawing your conclusions from?

There was a large report on this last year.

There have been others.

Care to share a link?

[The Moose]

Carl_Manchester said:

Macski said:

Read most of this thread.

Don't understand if the US have introduced pricing alligment with Canada how are drug prices cheaper there then in the USA.

Also does it matter, the USA and EU are set to sign a trade agreement one day so either the EU will have to accept US rules or the USA will have to accept EU rules?

It is currently illegal to mass-import drugs from Canada to the USA. The USA will remain a protected market until a president signs an executive order.

Specifically in terms of Canada, I am not sure that open trade for medicines result would be good for Canadian's without the Europeans also being included as the Americans would then buy all the Canadians stock and spike their prices

Maybe my buddies who do this are not breaking the law if it's just for them - i.e. not mass-importing? I don't know - I'll try to remember to ask next week or the week after.

[Halb]

The Moose said:

Who's to blame when people are unable to budget and plan for an unexpected emergency as small as $500?

Who's to blame when it's $500,000, or the insurance company refuses to insure?

[gregs656]

The Moose said:

Care to share a link?

Covered somewhat here -

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/03/u-s...

[Carl_Manchester]

The Moose said:

Maybe my buddies who do this are not breaking the law if it's just for them - i.e. not mass-importing? I don't know - I'll try to remember to ask next week or the week after.

it is not illegal for individuals to purchase medication cross-border. Many do, especially for insulin.

[The Moose]

Halb said:

The Moose said:

Who's to blame when people are unable to budget and plan for an unexpected emergency as small as $500?

Who's to blame when it's $500,000, or the insurance company refuses to insure?

Melodramatic much?

If you’re insured, it’s never $500,000 and the insurance company isn’t legally allowed to refuse coverage.

[The Moose]

Carl_Manchester said:

The Moose said:

Maybe my buddies who do this are not breaking the law if it's just for them - i.e. not mass-importing? I don't know - I'll try to remember to ask next week or the week after.

it is not illegal for individuals to purchase medication cross-border. Many do, especially for insulin.

Earlier in the thread I was told that in no uncertain terms it was illegal.

[Halb]

The Moose said:

Melodramatic much?

If you’re insured, it’s never $500,000 and the insurance company isn’t legally allowed to refuse coverage.

you arbitrarily chose a number, so I did the same. You said all can get cover, you were shown that is incorrect and beyond that, even those with insurance are going into the red because of medical bills. THe US system is broken and not fit for purpose.

[The Moose]

Halb said:

The Moose said:

Melodramatic much?

If you’re insured, it’s never $500,000 and the insurance company isn’t legally allowed to refuse coverage.

you arbitrarily chose a number, so I did the same. You said all can get cover, you were shown that is incorrect and beyond that, even those with insurance are going into the red because of medical bills. THe US system is broken and not fit for purpose.

I didn’t arbitrarily choose a number. I chose a number from a recent study that shows that a large portion of the American population couldn’t cover without difficulty. I also picked a number that is a likely cost of an unexpected trip to the emergency room (my wife’s cost is $350, mine $650).

I did say all could get cover, and I haven’t seen proof that shows otherwise.

I also haven’t said the system in the US is perfect, what I said is that in my experience and opinion, it’s a better system than the UK. You just have to use the system.

[Halb]

The Moose said:

I didn’t arbitrarily choose a number. I chose a number from a recent study that shows that a large portion of the American population couldn’t cover without difficulty. I also picked a number that is a likely cost of an unexpected trip to the emergency room (my wife’s cost is $350, mine $650).

I did say all could get cover, and I haven’t seen proof that shows otherwise.

I also haven’t said the system in the US is perfect, what I said is that in my experience and opinion, it’s a better system than the UK. You just have to use the system.

You arbitrarily chose a number.
YOu said all could get cover and I posted a link showing you were wrong
here's also a link showing yanks getting denied.
https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/...
also another link on how medical bills cause bankruptcy
https://www.thebalance.com/medical-bankruptcy-stat...

Edited by Halb on Sunday 8th December 23:18

[jamoor]

The Moose said:

Halb said:

The Moose said:

Melodramatic much?

If you’re insured, it’s never $500,000 and the insurance company isn’t legally allowed to refuse coverage.

you arbitrarily chose a number, so I did the same. You said all can get cover, you were shown that is incorrect and beyond that, even those with insurance are going into the red because of medical bills. THe US system is broken and not fit for purpose.

I didn’t arbitrarily choose a number. I chose a number from a recent study that shows that a large portion of the American population couldn’t cover without difficulty. I also picked a number that is a likely cost of an unexpected trip to the emergency room (my wife’s cost is $350, mine $650).

I did say all could get cover, and I haven’t seen proof that shows otherwise.

I also haven’t said the system in the US is perfect, what I said is that in my experience and opinion, it’s a better system than the UK. You just have to use the system.

$650 sounds like a weeks wages? I guess the cover for all is great assuming you have the money to pay for the excess and the gaps in coverage that may exist.

[The Moose]

Halb said:

You arbitrarily chose a number.
YOu said all could get cover and I posted a link showing you were wrong

You’re wrong! The number isn’t arbitrary...regardless of how many times you say it is!

Are you referring to the article you posted from over 10 years ago which isn’t relevant now? Or the one that talks more about the ability to afford the deductibles and other out of pocket expenses?

I’ve already said that there are plenty of ways that people with literally no money and no income can go about getting health care without spending a bean out of their own pocket. Not only that, but they can also avail themselves of the preventative services that I think is important.

[Halb]

The Moose said:

You’re wrong! The number isn’t arbitrary...regardless of how many times you say it is!

Are you referring to the article you posted from over 10 years ago which isn’t relevant now? Or the one that talks more about the ability to afford the deductibles and other out of pocket expenses?

I’ve already said that there are plenty of ways that people with literally no money and no income can go about getting health care without spending a bean out of their own pocket. Not only that, but they can also avail themselves of the preventative services that I think is important.

you arbitrarily chose a number, I'll arbitrarily choose $1,000, like in this article.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/medical-bankruptcy...
You pointed out the old one, so I linked the new one, from much more recently, which you ignore,d because it shows you are 100% wrong, again.

[The Moose]

jamoor said:

$650 sounds like a weeks wages? I guess the cover for all is great assuming you have the money to pay for the excess and the gaps in coverage that may exist.

Depends what you do. I believe the average household income to be around $58k.

As I’ve said in other posts, there are plenty of legal programs if you’re unable to afford the deductibles etc.