# Individual health insurance makes me want to cut myself

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individual-health-insurance-makes-me-want-to-cut-myself/219754>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [December 18, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individual-health-insurance-makes-me-want-to-cut-myself/219754 "2003-12-18T14:26:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individual-health-insurance-makes-me-want-to-cut-myself/219754/41 "2003-12-20T13:57:34Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jinwicked \*  
> \*\*I get cold sores really bad too, my prescription medicine for that is $35 (and I have no idea why I can’t just get it over the counter, not like you can get high or kill yourself with a tiny tube of ointment). \*\*

I get cold sores frequently. In the UK, I used to buy Zovirax over the counter for about £5 ($8.50). I was surprised to discover it is a prescription drug in the US. You are supposed to apply it as soon as the tingling starts - it’s not much use if the sores have started to erupt. Quite how you are supposed to get a doctor’s appointment that quickly for such a minor ailment, I don’t know.

After looking it up online [here](http://www.zovirax.us-pharmacy.net/), I am amazed to see that one small tube costs $118 in the US. Mind you, that site doesn’t mention using it on cold sores - just genital herpes.

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**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individual-health-insurance-makes-me-want-to-cut-myself/219754/42 "2003-12-21T00:58:36Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \*  
> \*\*Hey OP:
> 
> Just say no to State Farm’s Fortis. It sucks. \*\*

From a billing specialist’s perspective, they’re actually a dream to work with. I never worked with a rep who didn’t fix any problems ASAP. In one case, we screwed up the billing and they were nice enough to overnight the check.

This past November, Bush signed legislation that created an extension of the military’s Tricare program for reservists and Guardsmen. Instead of only having Tricare while Airman is active duty, we’ll have it year-round.

Here’s the bad news. It hasn’t taken effect yet because they haven’t figured out a way to administer it yet. Never mind the fact that there is a similar program in existence for retirees. Unless there are some differences that need to be worked out, I’m gonna call “bullshit” on the DoD and insist they have this figured out by the end of January. Grr.

Robin

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