This back to school supply is going to cut into my Disney budget...Epi Pen Increase

[PlutoPony]

That's interesting, they always scan my Costco card at the pharmacy. Wonder if mine is an exception.

In some states, I think there's a member price and a non-member price. Both of which are often lower than other places. But YMMV, state laws come into play so you have to check your particular store. Around here (northern VA) Costco has a rep as the cheapest. There are been several times I've needed people drugs for the dogs and they have always been lowest cost.

 

[Hikergirl]

I am in no way defending what I perceive to be outrageous and horrific increases in prices for these life saving items, but I have to wonder/take into consideration-

despite the basic 'cost' (components) of producing this item being relatively low-is a contributing factor to the increased cost due to greater numbers of people (esp. kids) being diagnosed w/allergies/prescribed these meds? (and due to our ever increasing litigious society-resulting in increased liability insurance for the manufacturers).

along the same line-is the decreased shelf-life ('use by date') b/c manufacturers (and their insurers) are overly paranoid about litigation?


this comes to my mind b/c in the late 80's I was prescribed the most phenomenal and effective migraine medication I've ever had before or since. anyone I ever encountered who prescribed it or personally used it found it to be life altering. sadly it only took a small number of individuals who did not benefit from the medication to launch costly litigation that initially drove the cost up-and ultimately resulted in it's discontinuance in being produced.

Its a little hard to look at this objectively I admit since I am one of those people having to pay these prices. I think what you say makes sense but when I see the salary increase of the execs during the same timeframe the cost of the epi-pen has risen its really hard to think that money has gone anywhere else for any other reason.

 

[DisneyMandC]

In some states, I think there's a member price and a non-member price. Both of which are often lower than other places. But YMMV, state laws come into play so you have to check your particular store. Around here (northern VA) Costco has a rep as the cheapest. There are been several times I've needed people drugs for the dogs and they have always been lowest cost.

I'm in Richmond! But yes, I use them for everything now, so much cheaper. Of course right after I bought my dog heartworm meds from the vet I saw that Costco had it for about $20 less than what I paid for a year's supply. I'll be getting it there next year.

 

[PlutoPony]

Its a little hard to look at this objectively I admit since I am one of those people having to pay these prices. I think what you say makes sense but when I see the salary increase of the execs during the same timeframe the cost of the epi-pen has risen its really hard to think that money has gone anywhere else for any other reason.

CEO salary is typically tied to specific metrics like earnings, stock price, etc. Obviously the company's earnings are up, is that mostly due to EpiPen sales or are other drugs contributing a similar (or greater) amount to the bottom line? If it's primarily from EpiPens, it's hard to believe there's not some cause and effect relationship going on...

 

[robinb]

The company that essentially has the monopoly on the EpiPen is the one who lobbied to make EpiPens more widely available based on possible risk rather than known allergy issue and also poured money into getting the government to give states grants to stock schools with EpiPens. Any significant increased demand for the product is a direct result of the company trying to get the population to buy as much of their product as possible and put money back into their company. That being said, the medication and components are so cheap to manufacture compared to the sell price, and not overly complicated to manufacture, increased demand likely has less to do with the scale of the dramatic price increase than sheer greed because they basically hold a monopoly due to the patent over the delivery device for the medication.

Funny, that. The company with the monopoly lobbied to make their product indispensable in the school system and then jacks the price up. Another interesting factoid is that their lobbying efforts increased dramatically once the PharmaWitch took over as CEO in 2007: https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000027765 .

 

[gottalovepluto]

Its a little hard to look at this objectively I admit since I am one of those people having to pay these prices. I think what you say makes sense but when I see the salary increase of the execs during the same timeframe the cost of the epi-pen has risen its really hard to think that money has gone anywhere else for any other reason.

I'm not usually one for complaining about exec salaries but in this case I must agree. The justification for raising the price is they need money for R&D and that makes me so upset. Any other business has to put money aside from their sales over many years to do R&D- not wait years for the competition to go under and then strangle consumers looking for the only life saving option.

When the news broke on Mylan it absolutely made my stomach turn and I don't even use this medication. It also boggled my mind that they can do this and there won't be any consequences. And if Mylan can do a 500% increase on EpiPen, a medicine widely associated with saving children's lives in the public's mind, the floodgates are opened on all drugs price increase wise IMHO.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Wow do you not have a prescription card?

 

[wendow]

Wow do you not have a prescription card?

I think the problem in my case, and I think for the OP, is that we are are on a HDHP. Until my family meets $10k in OOP spending, insurance does not kick in. So, we have to pay the retail pricing on Epipens (and all other meds). When we go to the doctor, we pay to see the doctor or have labs done like we have no medical insurance.

 

[MomToOne]

Wow do you not have a prescription card?

Even prescription coverage doesn't fix the problems these days.

I have asthma, and use 2 inhalers and a tablet to control it. What inhalers are on/off formulary for my insurance company changes randomly. For example, I find a rescue inhaler called Xopenex is more effective for me than the more traditional Albuterol inhalers. Two years ago, my insurance company covered it, with a $30 copay. Since it worked better, I had my doctor re-prescribe it. Then midyear, they dropped coverage on it - suddenly I had to pay over $100 per inhaler. My only options were to either pay that price, or get my doctor to switch me to a traditional albuterol inhaler. After a few months of paying, I had my doctor switch my prescription to the covered brand of albuterol at my next appointment. But guess what happened just 2 months later? My insurance company suddenly changes the formulary so now Xopenex is covered, but not the regular brands of albuterol!! So now I have to either get my doctor to switch me back or just pay outrageous prices again.

Oh - and albuterol is a drug that has been around for decades and decades and decades. Yet there's no generic inhaler available in the US anymore. In many countries in Europe you don't even need a prescription for it. Why do we? Because the drug company profits would fall significantly if it was over the counter, that's why.

Here's a interesting article about all of it: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/us/the-soaring-cost-of-a-simple-breath.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1

The main reason for rising drug prices are the games played by the manufacturers, from heavy advertising to patent manipulations to paying other companies NOT to manufacture generics.

The "free market" system is outrageously broken in this case. Free markets work only when no one tries to subvert the system - and that's not the case here.

 

[wendow]

Just saw the news story on my local nbc news that several of you mentioned about the cost of Epipens. Said cost has gone from $100 per 2-pack to $600 per 2-pack in 8 years. I've been buying them for 15 years and I would absolutely say that price increase is accurate. And the CEO of Mylan (maker of Epipen) has had her salary go from $2.4 mil to $19 mil in that same amount of time. Like others have said, how does she sleep at night?!?! Makes me sick. I really, really hope Congress does something about this.

 

[robinb]

I just read that Pharma(W)itch's daddy is a US Senator. Nice.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Americans pay much more for prescriptions in general, especially when compared to European countries. It's so unfair how drug companies are allowed to price gouge here. For an interesting look at why US drug prices are so much more:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-reasons-why-americans-pay-so-much-for-drugs/

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Saw this on CNN. It's should be able to help those who still need to purchase the Epipens.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/25/news/companies/mylan-epipen/index.html

 

[starry_solo]

Just saw that the coupon will now give you 50% off ($300) the cost of the epi-pens.

Still more expensive than the alternative.

 

[HM]

I haven't read through this thread, but did anyone mention that there is apparently a generic epinepherine that can be purchased for less? I'd look into that.

 

[JenB1104]

Saw this on CNN. It's should be able to help those who still need to purchase the Epipens.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/25/news/companies/mylan-epipen/index.html

This will help. Thank you for posting!

 

[SGB13]

The pharmacy should be able to give you a longer expiration date than 7 months! If they can't, don't accept it. Ask for your prescription to be sent to a competitors pharmacy and get a longer expiration date from them. Remember, you are the consumer. They are working for you.
And I am not sure how available it is yet, but the generic is here in NC. I filled a prescription with the generic yesterday. Good luck.

 

[Dread Pirate]

Would it be possible (and cheaper) to get syringes and a vial of the epinepherine, rather than the epi-pen auto injector?

 

[ktate82]

You can also ask your doctor to write for an "epinephrine auto injector" and not Epi-pen. When they write for the Epi-pen, it's a name brand and that is what the pharmacy gives you. The drug is an old drug and is cheap with a generic, but it is the injector that has a patent on it. So they can charge whatever they want because no one else can make that type of injector. The generic usually has different instructions (may require the user to remove two caps instead of one), so just make sure you know how to use it as it is different. States are also starting to allow EMS to not carry Epi-pens and just carry vials of epinephrine and draw up the dose in a syringe and give it as dread pirate asked. That's an option, but you have to be confident you can do that in an emergency if you go that route.

I read one person said their child's school kept them in the office and then at the end of the year couldn't find them? That is ridiculous and that student should be carrying that pen on him or her at all times. We went through that with a niece. The school nurse was only there two days a week and only in the afternoons and no one else knew had to use the pen. But the school wanted to require she keep her pen in the office under lock and key. That is a violation of a reasonable accommodation. The pens are not something you have time for someone to run to the office, get someone to open the locked box, get it out, take it back, and then give it. Ugh frustrating!

 

[Hezzy04]

I feel your pain, OP!! I have 2 daughters with peanut allergies, so we spent a fortune over the last several months on epi-pens.

It kills me that our insurance covers Viagra, but not EpiPens. It could save my child's life...