I didn't want to post this on Russ' thread because like everyone else here I wish him a full and rapid recovery, and didn't want to take anything away from that ...
But this caught my eye:

Yes, $12,000 seems like an exorbitant price to pay for any medication, but what most people fail to consider is how many millions of dollars went into years of R&D to develop that medication ... I have a close friend since high school who had a very successful career as a chemist, his last position being the head of international quality control for a major pharmaceutical manufacturer ... He sometimes would tell me of the $$$$$ that were spent developing products, many of which never even made it to market for one reason or another ...
So, what I am saying is, not everything is as simple as it might seem on the surface ...

And look at what some of us pay for our gear ...

Price of meds in the USA is higher than anywhere else in the world. It is simply big pharma price gouging. I buy the same meds overseas now and get them shipped here for a fraction of the price. It has nothing to do with development costs when I can buy them elsewhere for so little.

Tony, much of what you have said has value but there are areas I cannot agree with. About Five years ago my wife was told she had an incurable cancer. The cost of one of her medications was $10,000 a month. I was ready to do what ever we had to do. Humana brought the price down to $3,900 a month. I feel sorry for the people who did not have a health plan to offset the price. Our doctor helped us find a company who has given us a grant – we are receiving the medication without cost.
That leaves me wondering what is going on with the drug companies.
John C.

PS, this is a strong issue with string opinions, it should be brought to the bar. (We have done this before)

Sorry to intrude, but the first comment about the cost of meds was made here.
Stay safe, stay well.

Tony, I do not feel you were intruding. You always add a positive.

John C.

I agree with Tony about R&D costs,which are unknown to the General public. The question is what is the fair length of time to amortize these costs,and how many fingers are in the pie. There are so many layers,from contract managers to insurance companies,that it is a quagmire. If the Federal government had direct bargaining power,knowing their past failures, I wonder if it would yield better results.

Tony, I agree, development costs are warranted. My issue is, on one med, the price with insurance was $299.00 for a 30 day supply. That was one a day. I need 2. That means the rate for 30 days with insurance would have been $600. The good Rx price was $179.00 for 0ne a day...$ 360.00 for 2 pills a day-30 days. In playing with other on-line discount cards, I found one good at Kroger for $25.40. for some reason, 2 a day was $38.60. I filled the other 60 days I needed or a price of $63.00. That means Kroger charged me $100.00 for what Walgreens would have charged about $1100.00 for. Full insurance price, with United Healthcare (run away fast)would have been over $3,000.00.

My point is, what is a fair price? Kroger isn't losing money at $1.00 per pill. Somebody is making lots of money at $11.00 a pill, or 10 times as much.

It's a mess, and somebody is getting very, very rich.

Russ

Wow, do you guys sort of have to pay full price, for all your meds, ie government doesn’t subsidise ?

My hubby’s on 5 medications a day, total cost for the month , $30.

No government subsidies for heathcare in the USA lol You gotta be kidding.

Sounds like we don’t know how lucky we are over here with our medical needs.

Not every single pill is on the subsidised list, but most seem to be. As pensioners we pay $6 per script , whether the pack is worth $10 or $1000 as long as it’s on that list.

As with all national fiscal policies, some will be affected more than other. For example, it is well none that cpountries with nationally sponsored healthcare have a higher tax rate to cover the costs. Luckily for us "pensioners" the tax bite is usually less. I have family in Canada eg,and the tax rate is high,and sometimes there is a wait for services.

Again,who knows? Some fare better than others.

Thing is all these countries residents are happy to pay extra to get a good health service that is available for everybody no matter what their circumstances. (Yes there are waiting times for general treatments but is always available in a n emergency as need is prioritised over cost)

Below are 4 videos for UK, Germany, Australia & Canada health systems which are worth a look.

Bill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45PfRLntfBU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d3QLPdHysc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9XZcgFZdi0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heK471H-s1s

I have lived in Australia with national health and it worked out fine. Any extra tax came NO-WHERE close to the cost of health insurance in the US. The problem in the US is that health insurance is privatized and much money in healthcare is creamed off for private profit. A total scam that isn't needed. And I know how much that costs. When I was laid off some years ago in California I was having to pay $1,500 a month health insurance for my wife and myself. Crazy ...

Took some time but this finally ended in the Bar where it belonged all along.

As it seems like you have been following this thread, now it is in The Bar what is your opinion?

Rikki, you must remember, the USA is the only civilized country in the world that does not have some form of Universal Health Care. Here, private health care providers and pharmaceuticals are in charge of setting prices.

It's been proven that the overall cost of healthcare would be lower with Universal Healthcare vs. a private policy, and the majority of Americans want Universal Health Care, but Insurance lobbyist are powerful, and have Politicians under control, who in return, have convinced many Americans that Government run programs are bad. Yes taxes would be higher, but that would mean no high private insurance company fees, hospital costs, and drug prices would be zero or near zero. Employers would not have the burden of paying Health Care for employees, and therefore, just maybe would pass on the savings as salary increase.

We do have a watered down "Cares" act (otherwise know as ObamaCare) that does offer some protection for anyone with a "pre-existing" conditions (yes, private health insurance companies can, and do, turn down those with a "pre existing" health condition) and offers a somewhat better lower cost option for purchasing private health care insurance. But beleive it or not, we have Politicians here, including the President who have been trying for years to take even that away. And we do have Medicare for Seniors, that works fairly well, Pays 80% of healthcare costs, after that you're on your own. And if you served in the military we do have the Veterans Administration that offers free or low cost health coverage, and speaking from experience, this government run program, similar to other socially run programs, does a great job.

We can only imagine what it's like to live in a country where healthcare is a right, and not a privilege. Maybe some day, we will catch up.

All that being said, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else but here in the USA

You bet. I love living in the USA. I just wish that basic rights that most people have are available here too. Simply tax billionaires like most other countries and everything would be possible. I don't mind paying taxes at all. Everyone else should pay too. Including that person in the WH. If you don't think billionaires should pay tax you are a dumbass.