This Medco/Harvard "study" on 'Script co-pays...

[BiggJawn]

Here, and other places, it's an AP story:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/health/cst-nws-drugs04.html

OK, so when your healthcare plan juggles it's prescription coverage around and you have to pay more for what your sawbones puts you on, what you gonna do? Here's a part of the article that bugs me:

"...More and more employers have been adopting three-level pricing plans, which are designed to encourage employees to use generics or other less expensive drugs. Those who want to use pricier drugs have to pay the highest out-of-pocket expenses.

In a study of two such plans, as many as half of the employees changed from an expensive drug to a cheaper one when their benefits switched to three tiers. But many others quit getting their prescriptions for chronic conditions."

"Those WHO WANT TO USE pricier drugs..."???

OK, I'll grant you, there are people who say "I want the REAL stuff, not one of those generic knock-offs", but honestly, how many of us have any choice in what we take? The doctor either checks off the "May Substitute" box or he doesn't and we're at his mercy.

I'm on several medications for which there are generics available. IF I were to use these generics, my out-of-pocket expenses would go from $140 a month to around $40 a month. I have NO qualms about using generics. but when I ask my (former) doctor why I couldn't have the generic Glucophage and Glucotrol, and why not put me on generic Verapamil instead of a more expensive "new" calcium channel blocker, all I got was some bullshit about "The name-brand medications have a benefit." I came to the conclussion that the prime "benefit" was to the doctor, in the way of "bonuses" from the pill salesman.

The article states that 2 plans they studied had a third tier that charged between $24 and $30 for the brand-name drugs.

Lucky them.
My plan goes on a percentage basis, and f'instance, I received a letter last month stating that they would no long have Lilly's "Actos" on the preffered list, thus my co-pay would go to 50% after the first of the year. A month's supply of Actos costs $160, making MY share of it $80. I'd love to get it for $30...

I'm just wondering why the story didn't say anything about patients who want to use less-expensive generics, but can't get their drug company paid-off doctors to prescribe them?

Anybody else having the same problem as me?

[BiggJawn]

1. Guess y'all more intersted in stories about eating illegal pills....

Brought this off Page Three for a self-promoting "Kick"...