Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: skinowski who wrote (606214)	8/27/2016 3:42:46 PM
From: Katelew	2 Recommendations Recommended By bentway John Koligman Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 794387

I have an unsually severe allergy to Virginia Creeper. It hurts as much as it itches and takes a couple of weeks to clear up completely. In July, I went for an annual mole check and decided to ask the dermatologist if there was anything high-powered that would at least accelerate the healing time. He prescribed clobetasol 0.05%, a topical spray which only claim to fame, I think, is that it is a 5% cortisone strength. So excited I went straight to the pharmacy since I had a small streak on the top of one foot from wearing sandals in a local park. The clerk said my drug plan didn't cover it, so I asked him to find out the cash price. While he was doing that I stood there thinking how much would I be willing to pay...35$...maybe as much as 65$ if the spray bottle would last a year or more? I was even pondering $100 when he came back to tell that the cash price would be $680!!! After saying 'no, thanks', I stood there quivering with anger and waited for the pharmacist to get free. I asked him what was so special about this spray that would justify that kind of cost since it seemed to be nothing more than high-powered cortisone. The answer I was expecting came when he said it was nothing really special but was an important line of treatment for severe exzema. Then he said there used to be a similar formulation, a tube of cream with 5% cortisone that sold for around $15, but as far as he knew it was off the market. So it would appear that here is another company that has decided to add to the already miserable condition of chronic exzema by holding these victims and their insurance companies captive to an obscene pricing scheme. Stuff like this puts me in the frame of mind to support a single payer health care system, perhaps similar to that of France, where private insurance companies are also part of the mix.