# Insurance for expensive drugs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978 "2024-05-23T17:13:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/1 "2024-05-23T17:13:23Z")
The cost of simponi increased to the point that my insurance company refused to cover it, even though the manufacturer of the drug supplemented payments. An insurance company, “Infinity” was found by my physician that will get me a $2,000.00 drug for $47.00. How does that work? I don’t pay a policy for this new company. How do they make money from this? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/2 "2024-06-02T18:37:54Z")
Are you certain “infinity” is an insurance plan rather than a mail-order policy that your insurance company will pay. Sometimes insurance companies will cover drugs through mail order that they won’t cover at retail pharmacies. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/3 "2024-06-02T19:23:23Z")
Infinity is a specialty and compound drug service. Mostly mail-order. They do have a retail center in North Central Arkansas (Bentonville) Owned by ARcare. Not an insurance company. They are able to buy in bulk and receive _discounts_ from drug manufacturers. They pass that along to their customer. Apparently that is their business plan. It’s a relatively small company, highly regulated. They’ve gotten the go-ahead to do country wide mail order. Except for one state. I forget which. I suspect these companies are available in every state. It’s the kind of meds that are difficult for your local brick and mortar to get, keep and are cost prohibitive. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/4 "2024-06-02T20:05:54Z")
$2,000.00 of drugs for $49? Either the guys who make the drugs are making way too much money, or Somethin’ Ain’t Right. Thanks, Beck. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/5 "2024-06-02T20:39:31Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Either the guys who make the drugs are making way too much money, or Somethin’ Ain’t Right. How 'bout both? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/6 "2024-06-02T21:11:39Z")
Yeah, I think they’re making too much money. By big big numbers. It is part of what’s wrong in America and our healthcare. As we age we need our medicines. Big Pharma is not our friend. I pay, at least, 4 times as much for insulin than I did 5 years ago. I don’t know what some people do. If they have no coverage or crappy/sketchy insurance. I guess they just die. Die. For lack of a drug that could save them. An accessable drug that costs 30¢ to make. Retails at $3 somewhere else. And $150 here. It’s a nightmare. I had trouble even getting my insulin last month. I was able buy some at one place. More at another 2 places. Which worries me. It changes the lot numbers. One difficulty with that and I’ll have skip a dose. I can hardly do that, the shape I’m in. So then what? Die. Ok I’ll step off my soap box after saying: please vote Democratic. Please. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/7 "2024-06-02T22:01:22Z")
I always do. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/8 "2024-06-02T22:46:49Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yeah, I think they’re making too much money. They would argue that they’ve invested a fortune in research and development and should recoup their costs and make a profit. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/9 "2024-06-02T22:49:04Z")
I’m not sure that explains why Americans pay so much more than other countries for the same medications. Or why they spend more on marketing and advertising than they do on research. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/10 "2024-06-02T22:52:37Z")
Other countries have universal health care, which won’t pay the prices US insurance companies will, or have no health care, and the drug companies sell at a very low price for PR. If they only pay a dime instead of a dollar, they still make money if the drug costs a nickel. We are somewhat helped by a time limit that allows other companies to make a generic drug that is less expensive after several years. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/11 "2024-06-02T22:56:12Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I pay, at least, 4 times as much for insulin than I did 5 years ago. I remember a friend many years ago who reused his insulin syringes. At the time the syringes cost way more than the insulin. Then again it was beef or pork insulin, not the bioengineered human stuff being sold today. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/12 "2024-06-02T23:53:36Z")
Didn’t Biden do something to lower insulin costs? (We may consider this not a hijack, but a change in the conversation.) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/13 "2024-06-03T01:22:55Z")
I’m not gonna use the Walmart cheaper insulin. Well, it’s not recommended for me. The insulin can be gotten even cheaper if you’re on medicaid. There are programs through the Novalog(Walmart reli-On brand)that even offer it free to those in need. I don’t qualify for those programs. My insurance covers it. But I use a pump. The vials are more expensive and I pay the highest co-pay. The pump is so much more precise. At this point in my disease process being very precise is necessary. I do buy syringes and vial insulin and the insulin pens for extra use. I get by easy. It’s only $600 in cash a month for all. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/14 "2024-06-03T01:42:23Z")
At one time, yes, that was done. Health guides had instructions on how to boil, sharpen, and reuse needles and syringes, which were made of glass, and hospitals did it too. This drug pricing stuff is Reason #12,356,783 why I am glad I am no longer actively practicing. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/15 "2024-06-03T01:45:21Z")
Not all countries that have UHC pay for prescription drugs. Canada doesn’t, I do know that. Canadian Dopers, please correct me if I am mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/16 "2024-06-03T01:51:47Z")
I’m not Canadian but my understanding is that medications are much cheaper in Canada than in the United States, and that’s why some Americans cross the border to fill prescriptions. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/17 "2024-06-03T01:55:03Z")
Jesus, Beck. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/18 "2024-06-03T02:22:55Z")
Drug pricing in the US is a scam. Insulin has been around for decades "research "is no excuse. I’m having trouble getting a steroidal inhaler for a price I can afford. It isn’t life saving like Beck’s Insulin, but it would improve my quality of life. Beck, I hope you don’t ever have to ration your meds. Steroidal inhalers have also been around for a very long time, but drug companies manipulate the delivery mechanism and file new patents. There are other manipulations too. Then there are eppi pens etc. etc. The drug companies aren’t in it to keep people healthy or alive. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/19 "2024-06-03T02:26:14Z")
Have you asked your doctor outright for the inhalers? The drug reps often give them freebies. After that contact the actual drug company. Sometimes they have the programs if you qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978/20 "2024-06-03T02:46:20Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > Drug pricing in the US is a scam. Insulin has been around for decades "research "is no excuse. I’m having trouble getting a steroidal inhaler for a price I can afford. It isn’t life saving like Beck’s Insulin, but it would improve my quality of life. I’ve heard the argument that “high drug prices are needed to recover R&D investments” but have no idea why anyone not directly employed by a pharmaceutical company would make that argument, or why American consumers seem to accept that as an excuse. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-for-expensive-drugs/1001978.md?page=2)