Another Reason To Hate Obamacare

[Minor Axis]

This has to be one of the reasons to hate Obamacare:

Medicare beneficiaries reach $5 billion in drug savings, right? right?

12:01AM EST December 3. 2012 - Since passage of the health care overhaul two years ago, 5.8 million Medicare patients have saved $5 billion from prescription drug discounts, and the government can now predict lower health care costs based on increased use of these cheaper drugs.

 

[Francis]

Well I can understand where the savings would come from..

Our system does the same here.. Negotiates cost savings of certain drugs and offers generics only for those available.. There is a cost involved is that some people cannot take the generics as they do not always have the same effect on all patients.

That being said, its not a bad system, as most insurance companies do this already.. Most people don't even notice the change unless they have issues with the medication.. This was how I found out and how I discovered my health plan had forced the change to a generic at my pharmacy.

When my Doctor wrote to the insurance company that it had a negative effect they covered me again for the original drug and back paid me the pills I had to pay out of my pocket during the 2 weeks delay..

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/12/02/drug-discounts-save-money/1737835/

 

[Stone]

This has to be one of the reasons to hate Obamacare:

Medicare beneficiaries reach $5 billion in drug savings, right? right?

The drug prescription plan was originally legislation signed by Bush.
Corrections with the donut hole occurred under Obama, but it's not part Obama's health care legislation that I'm aware of.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Prescription_Drug,_Improvement,_and_Modernization_Act

 

[Minor Axis]

Well I can understand where the savings would come from..

Our system does the same here.. Negotiates cost savings of certain drugs and offers generics only for those available.. There is a cost involved is that some people cannot take the generics as they do not always have the same effect on all patients.

That being said, its not a bad system, as most insurance companies do this already.. Most people don't even notice the change unless they have issues with the medication.. This was how I found out and how I discovered my health plan had forced the change to a generic at my pharmacy.

When my Doctor wrote to the insurance company that it had a negative effect they covered me again for the original drug and back paid me the pills I had to pay out of my pocket during the 2 weeks delay..

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/12/02/drug-discounts-save-money/1737835/

The insurance companies are in the driver's seat. You probably heard my story of when my wife had a 45min surgery, gall bladder removal, and the Dr's bill was $18k. Blue Cross cut it to $9k, that poor guy. Working for $12k per hour is tough.

 

[Francis]

The insurance companies are in the driver's seat. You probably heard my story of when my wife had a 45min surgery, gall bladder removal, and the Dr's bill was $18k. Blue Cross cut it to $9k, that poor guy. Working for $12k per hour is tough.

Didn't see to be honest..

But I am not surprised..

 

[The Man]

This has to be one of the reasons to hate Obamacare:

Medicare beneficiaries reach $5 billion in drug savings, right? right?

Just when I thought you gave me a reason to hate him you failed again

 

[The Man]

As part of the 2010 health care law, drugmakers participating in the program had to give the government a 50% break on premium drugs and 14% on generic drugs, which the government then passed on to seniors. In 2012, the coverage gap is $2,930. The health care law eliminates the doughnut hole by 2020.


http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/story/2012-07-24/doughnut-hole-savings/56467052/1

Forced discount to the govt....seems like abuse of power IMO.

Kinda reminds me of shopping...raise the price then give a discount lol.
What you will see are drug prices go up...to off set the cost of this half price.
As a result others will pay more for drugs...Those with other insurance or cash customers.
Fuck if the Govt wants to help then just pay for the damn drug full price and be done with it...Forcing a discount is abuse.
Dont like it.....A major step towards socialism{forced pricing}...this has opened the door...this is the beginning of the end

 

[robdawg1]

As part of the 2010 health care law, drugmakers participating in the program had to give the government a 50% break on premium drugs and 14% on generic drugs, which the government then passed on to seniors. In 2012, the coverage gap is $2,930. The health care law eliminates the doughnut hole by 2020.


http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/story/2012-07-24/doughnut-hole-savings/56467052/1

Forced discount to the govt....seems like abuse of power IMO.

Kinda reminds me of shopping...raise the price then give a discount lol.
What you will see are drug prices go up...to off set the cost of this half price.
As a result others will pay more for drugs...Those with other insurance or cash customers.
Fuck if the Govt wants to help then just pay for the damn drug full price and be done with it...Forcing a discount is abuse.
Dont like it.....A major step towards socialism{forced pricing}...this has opened the door...this is the beginning of the end

I am not going to try to argue the legality of this issue, but i am going to add my moral input. It seems like a good thing to me to put a cap on prescription drug companies that make a bottle of pills for 2.00 and then sell it for 120.00 to elderly people who desperately need it. Forcing them to give a 50 percent discount to gov't insurance companies is a great thing when the people on said insurance can't afford full price, or even most co-pays with other insurance companies. That said, I am also sue that the Pharm co's prices will try to go up to swell the original price so they can under cut that discount, but i am sure that the Gov't will put a foot down on that too.

 

[The Man]

I am not going to try to argue the legality of this issue, but i am going to add my moral input. It seems like a good thing to me to put a cap on prescription drug companies that make a bottle of pills for 2.00 and then sell it for 120.00 to elderly people who desperately need it. Forcing them to give a 50 percent discount to gov't insurance companies is a great thing when the people on said insurance can't afford full price, or even most co-pays with other insurance companies. That said, I am also sue that the Pharm co's prices will try to go up to swell the original price so they can under cut that discount, but i am sure that the Gov't will put a foot down on that too.

You missed my point,,,if the govt is going to pick up the tab then ok....but dont force the drug company to sell to you cheaper.

But you did hit the point in partial...price control.
Whats next....cars to high...must sell for less for seniors?
Food.
Rent.
Whats next?
I dont see how any of this is "legal"


I have no problem helping seniors ...if the govt wants to help then just pick up the tab..or in this case just pay 50 percent of the bill.

 

[robdawg1]

You missed my point,,,if the govt is going to pick up the tab then ok....but dont force the drug company to sell to you cheaper.

But you did hit the point in partial...price control.
Whats next....cars to high...must sell for less for seniors?
Food.
Rent.
Whats next?
I dont see how any of this is "legal"


I have no problem helping seniors ...if the govt wants to help then just pick up the tab..or in this case just pay 50 percent of the bill.

like i said i was commenting on moral grounds....

 

[The Man]

like i said i was commenting on moral grounds....

I just hope the fed govt doesn't further abuse their power.

 

[robdawg1]

I just hope the fed govt doesn't further abuse their power.

then vote accordingly

 

[The Man]

It appears as if it wasn't a voting matter.....regardless this should have been rejected somewhere along the line.

 

[robdawg1]

it is always a voting matter, consider you vote for those that represent you, and they make that decision on your behalf....

 

[The Man]

it is always a voting matter, consider you vote for those that represent you, and they make that decision on your behalf....

Doesnt mean I have a vote in it., the choices available may also support such policy

 

[robdawg1]

then you be sure to find and support a candidate that doesnt support said policy, we always have a voice....write you congressman/senator, and let them know how you feel. That's your responsibility as a concerned and active citizen!

 

[The Man]

Still doesn't matter if the proper candidate doesn't win.
The point is this should have never been approved..as it does not seem legal.
bush pretty much stomped on the constitution in a few areas

 

[Francis]

Still doesn't matter if the proper candidate doesn't win.
The point is this should have never been approved..as it does not seem legal.
bush pretty much stomped on the constitution in a few areas

So let me get this straight..

You believe any service should be charged at any cost the provider wishes ?

 

[The Man]

Isn't that how the free market works.
The point here I am trying to stress is the govt forces the discount to itself not to the pubic....its not to help the elderly per say but to lower govt costs

 

[Francis]

Isn't that how the free market works.
The point here I am trying to stress is the govt forces the discount to itself not to the pubic....its not to help the elderly per say but to lower govt costs

But there are times when Governments must step in.. Its why we have Government.. No one likes it and it should be kept at a minimum, even zero if companies could self regulate, but for the few exceptions there are times when its required yes or no ?