[hiram112]

It's doubtful that the insurance company is paying $500 either. I can't believe the type of scam these drug companies run.

I take a medication whose patent expired before I was born. Over the years the price has actually gotten more and more expensive in the US, though I've purchased it in the EU for around $20 / month.

In the US, using my insurance card, the pharmacy charges me $175. I pay that out of pocket until I hit my deductible of $2K, so it is quite expensive.

However, if I don't use my insurance card, the pharmacy has a 'different' price of $40. WTF? My insurance company is apparently in bed with the pharmacy and manufacturer to rip off their own insured customers.

So I pay for it with cash for $40 without using my card, and then submit it later towards my deductible (which of course they deny 'till I threaten small claims court).

It's absurd and would be a violation of RICO laws for any other industry.

Regardless, if you're paying out of pocket due to a high deductible, use GoodRx at the pharmacy without even mentioning your insurance - just pretend you're completely uninsured - and then submit the receipt later. It will save you a lot cash.

* https://www.goodrx.com/

[TheOtherHobbes]

"My insurance company is apparently in bed with the pharmacy and manufacturer to rip off their own insured customers."

Yes. And so are hospitals and other medical service providers, many of whom are owned by the same companies that own the insurers.

[effingwewt]

+1 for goodrx, they helped a LOT when I was doing residential and commercial carpentry and had a piece of slag bounced off my cheekbone, up under my safety glasses and right into my eyeball.

Many flushings and a few days later I go to the ER (after being threatened with being fired if I applied for workman's comp).

ER doc numbed my eye and scraped out the slag and metal shards in my eye. Prescribed generic antibiotic eye drops.

I thought cool antibiotics arent expensive and per the manufacturer website is literally just diluted penicillin in an eye dropper. Boy was I wrong! 200 with insurance copay, 150 if i paid cash no insurance. Was recommended goodrx by the pharmacist and in 5 mins had created an account and had a valid 'coupon' for the drops at $50.

It's incredibly sad this is where our country is at with regards to health care, that we have to find workarounds like this.