Another person commented on a different thread that he was buying some kind of auto-injection pen that fetched a premium to the bottled stuff. It seems he was not aware that he could’ve used the regular bottle stuff and saved a LOT of money.
The pharmacist should’ve given him a better consult and told him options for cheaper stuff. I had a pharmacist and a tech search for 30 mins several times for a rebate that brought my cost to $0. They will suggest another medication if the one you are getting isn’t covered. They will even call you doctors to get a new script.
It seems there were failures on multiple levels. He should’ve been aware of better options. The pharmacist shouldnt have let him leave when he couldn’t afford it.
The primary failure is that healthcare is considered an "industry" in the US and that health "insurance" is incentivized to keep prices (and profits) high.
Health insurance by private companies is just a scam. In combination with "not-for-profit" hospitals, medical practicioners loaded with college debt, lobbying to government to enforce ongoing rent-seeking (eg "Medicare D is specifically not allowed to negotiate drug prices").
The entire US health system needs an enema.
It should not be up to the patient to "be aware of better options". It should not be up to the pharmacist to stop him leaving when he couldn't afford it.
What should have happened is that a doctor prescribed the appropriate medication, and a pharmacist supplied that medication, both ensuring the best outcome for the patient.
The cost of the medication should be absorbed (not totally perhaps, but within the bounds of reality and the minimum wage) by the government.
That forces the government to negotiate the best possible price with the suppliers and to remove inappropriate IP "rights" when they no longer "promote the progress of science and the useful arts".
Still, auto-injection pens are not rocket science. In Sweden, maybe they'd double the cost to $1200/year, though I doubt they'd do that if mass-produced.
The pharmacist should’ve given him a better consult and told him options for cheaper stuff. I had a pharmacist and a tech search for 30 mins several times for a rebate that brought my cost to $0. They will suggest another medication if the one you are getting isn’t covered. They will even call you doctors to get a new script.
It seems there were failures on multiple levels. He should’ve been aware of better options. The pharmacist shouldnt have let him leave when he couldn’t afford it.