The Great Rip Off

[VolStrom]

I just wanted to post about my current prescriptions and the absolute rip off of what they charge insurance vs what they actually cost to buy.
#1. Valsarten for blood pressure: billed to BCBS: $748.81 for 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $25.16 through Kroger pharmacy.
#2. Rosuvastatin for chloresterol billed to BCBS: $804.04 for a 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $11.91.
Does anyone else get the idea that the people are getting ripped off?

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I just wanted to post about my current prescriptions and the absolute rip off of what they charge insurance vs what they actually cost to buy.
#1. Valsarten for blood pressure: billed to BCBS: $748.81 for 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $25.16 through Kroger pharmacy.
#2. Rosuvastatin for chloresterol billed to BCBS: $804.04 for a 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $11.91.
Does anyone else get the idea that the people are getting ripped off?

I've been saying it for years now. The middle class carries this country, is the most financially burdened, are the targets of govt and corporate grift and receive the least amount of benefits of any group. The rich above and the poor below feed on the middle class like vultures.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Yes. Big Pharma is a helluva scam..

And I doubt the money they make off meds has no correlation to a lot of diseases being curable but juuuuuust not quite there "yet"..

 

[VolFaninFla]

I just wanted to post about my current prescriptions and the absolute rip off of what they charge insurance vs what they actually cost to buy.
#1. Valsarten for blood pressure: billed to BCBS: $748.81 for 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $25.16 through Kroger pharmacy.
#2. Rosuvastatin for chloresterol billed to BCBS: $804.04 for a 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $11.91.
Does anyone else get the idea that the people are getting ripped off?

Check this out.
https://costplusdrugs.com/

 

[Orangeburst]

I just wanted to post about my current prescriptions and the absolute rip off of what they charge insurance vs what they actually cost to buy.
#1. Valsarten for blood pressure: billed to BCBS: $748.81 for 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $25.16 through Kroger pharmacy.
#2. Rosuvastatin for chloresterol billed to BCBS: $804.04 for a 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $11.91.
Does anyone else get the idea that the people are getting ripped off?

What is GoodRX? Is it subsidized? I will have to tell my Mom.

 

[StarRaider]

the receptionist at my dentist's office was checking with a canadian company trying to get her daughter's migration prescription filled ($800/month at the local pharm).

 

[Orangeburst]

the receptionist at my dentist's office was checking with a canadian company trying to get her daughter's migration prescription filled ($800/month at the local pharm).

I was trying to come top with something...just dont have it tonight

 

[norrislakevol]

the receptionist at my dentist's office was checking with a canadian company trying to get her daughter's migration prescription filled ($800/month at the local pharm).

Is that what all these A-holes that are flooding our southern border are taking?

 

[norrislakevol]

People always get ripped off when a 3rd party payer is involved. Whether it be an insurance company or especially the government.

 

[Orangeburst]

People always get ripped off when a 3rd party payer is involved. Whether it be an insurance company or especially the government.

The way I see it, they are trying to use this crisis to implement nationalized HC. Funny that Dems have not broached the subject after all the Obamacare stuff and now hold the keys for implementation.

 

[Vol737]

What is GoodRX? Is it subsidized? I will have to tell my Mom.

It’s an app. Put it on your phone and you can shop prices among multiple pharmacies in your area for prescriptions. Guess you could say it a coupon app for prescriptions.

 

[norrislakevol]

The way I see it, they are trying to use this crisis to implement nationalized HC. Funny that Dems have not broached the subject after all the Obamacare stuff and now hold the keys for implementation.

I agree. Never let a crisis go to waste.

 

[BreatheUT]

I just wanted to post about my current prescriptions and the absolute rip off of what they charge insurance vs what they actually cost to buy.
#1. Valsarten for blood pressure: billed to BCBS: $748.81 for 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $25.16 through Kroger pharmacy.
#2. Rosuvastatin for chloresterol billed to BCBS: $804.04 for a 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $11.91.
Does anyone else get the idea that the people are getting ripped off?

I order #1 using the same method. Told them to scrap going through the insurance. I usually get 30 days but I need to price that 90.

 

[NurseGoodVol]

People always get ripped off when a 3rd party payer is involved. Whether it be an insurance company or especially the government.

I have one script, it’s cheaper without insurance.

 

[C-south]

I wonder how long before big pharma takes down the Cube’s online pharmacy.

 

[ButchPlz]

I got a series of cortisone injections for a foot injury down here in Peru. $8/each.

Insurance has destroyed healthcare in America.

 

[newarkvol]

America’s covid job-saving programme gave most of its cash to the rich

 

[MOOOOONEY]

I got a series of cortisone injections for a foot injury down here in Peru. $8/each.

The Government has destroyed healthcare in America.

100%

 

[MurphyVol]

I called local hospital about an MRI they said $2400 if we bill insurance, $1200 if you pay cash. Sounds like insurance fraud to simple minded people like me.

Since my deductible is $6000 I drove an hour to a cash only place and paid $399.

I have a client that's a Dr and in his practice he is him, 1 PA and "3 ladies that work all day on trying to get us paid."

I think it was Forbes that did a deep dive about 10 years ago that said the "process" was the biggest problem in the medical system. Not Doctors, ambulance chasing lawyers, etc but the arduous process of dealing with Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies. They showed many elective procedures that had gotten much cheaper over the years (vision correction, cosmetic, etc) yet gall bladder surgery, that is now outpatient, is 5x more than it was back when they cut you from backbone to breastbone and kept you hospitalized for a week.

 

[walkenvol]

It’s an app. Put it on your phone and you can shop prices among multiple pharmacies in your area for prescriptions. Guess you could say it a coupon app for prescriptions.

Thank you for sharing this. I take a single prescription that I’ve been having filled at the Publix pharmacy for several years and will need it for life. It’s price changes every time it seems for a 90 day supply ranging from $30 - $42 if memory serves. Checked it on the app and my local Walmart has the same for $10 so I called them & moved my prescription there. Who says it’s a waste of time reading VN? You paid it forward today!

 

[McDad]

I just wanted to post about my current prescriptions and the absolute rip off of what they charge insurance vs what they actually cost to buy.
#1. Valsarten for blood pressure: billed to BCBS: $748.81 for 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $25.16 through Kroger pharmacy.
#2. Rosuvastatin for chloresterol billed to BCBS: $804.04 for a 90 day supply. What you can buy it through Goodrx for the same amount: $11.91.
Does anyone else get the idea that the people are getting ripped off?

1. Health insurance companies must spend at least 80% on direct medical care.
2. Health insurance premiums are regulated by each state's insurance comminsioner.
3. Increases to the public must be approved by regulatory body.
4. Increased cost of care to the insurance company is necessary to justify increases to premiums.
5. Medical costs increase in a dance with insurance company even though every service is 5x times less expensive if paid in cash.

There is no free market in health care. Yes, people are getting ripped off.

 

[Wireless1]

1. Health insurance companies must spend at least 80% on direct medical care.
2. Health insurance premiums are regulated by each state's insurance comminsioner.
3. Increases to the public must be approved by regulatory body.
4. Increased cost of care to the insurance company is necessary to justify increases to premiums.
5. Medical costs increase in a dance with insurance company even though every service is 5x times less expensive if paid in cash.

There is no free market in health care. Yes, people are getting ripped off.

Hence the reason they don't care if health care costs go up.... they make a 20% margin whether they save you or your employer.... infaacat they make more when the costs go up.

 

[walkenvol]

I called local hospital about an MRI they said $2400 if we bill insurance, $1200 if you pay cash. Sounds like insurance fraud to simple minded people like me.

Since my deductible is $6000 I drove an hour to a cash only place and paid $399.

I have a client that's a Dr and in his practice he is him, 1 PA and "3 ladies that work all day on trying to get us paid."

I think it was Forbes that did a deep dive about 10 years ago that said the "process" was the biggest problem in the medical system. Not Doctors, ambulance chasing lawyers, etc but the arduous process of dealing with Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies. They showed many elective procedures that had gotten much cheaper over the years (vision correction, cosmetic, etc) yet gall bladder surgery, that is now outpatient, is 5x more than it was back when they cut you from backbone to breastbone and kept you hospitalized for a week.

Would you mind sharing the process of how one goes about finding a “cash only” provider and how to get a pre quote in order to compare pricing? I’ve enjoyed pretty much a doctor free adulthood except for check ups but as I’m getting older I’m sure that is likely to be ending sooner rather than later. TIA

 

[ButchPlz]

100%

If you think insurance companies don't have a hand in this I don't know what to tell you. Everywhere I've been in the world where insurance is catastrophic-only and is highly limited healthcare costs have been reasonable while still preserving enough profits for clinics and hospitals to incentivize them to stay open.

Healthcare down here in Peru, where insurance is basically only used for things like pregnancies, cancer, massive traumas, etc., and where I can get all kinds of stuff OTC, costs next to nothing. Examples: I got two chipped teeth repaired and my wife and I both got cleanings for a total of $70; my wife had a preventative operation here (that insurance would not approve in the US) for less than $7K including all tests, hospital stay, follow-ups with various clinicians (this same operation would have been well over $20K at home, with worse doctors); I had a foot injury and got it treated for a total of $50 in three days (insurance would have required me to get a referral from a GP, plus the specialist doctor visit, plus the treatment if they actually would have covered it; estimated cost over $2K if they hadn't).

The bureaucracy that insurance companies pile on in the interest of their own margins is hugely problematic. Government insurance programs and regulations don't help, but they're not the main problem.

 

[MurphyVol]

Would you mind sharing the process of how one goes about finding a “cash only” provider and how to get a pre quote in order to compare pricing? I’ve enjoyed pretty much a doctor free adulthood except for check ups but as I’m getting older I’m sure that is likely to be ending sooner rather than later. TIA

I just googled MRI cash pay. Depending on what you're doing and where you are, there are some portals that will help you shop pricing.

Many years ago a colleague was getting their gall bladder removed and he showed me a Georgia portal that would shop most every Ga hospital. One place was 1/2 the price of the other. Even though he was insured, he still had to pay 20%, so he was paying 20% of a much smaller number.

I also have a prescription that is $180/mo. It goes toward my deductible but again, my deductible is $6k. So I pay cash using a GoodRx coupon and it's $35/mo.

If for some reason I had a big expense like a surgery and hit my deductible, then I'd start filing my prescription and it would pay 100%.

It's like a huge racket. I'd encourage everyone, no matter your insurance situation to take as much control of your medical situation as you can.