Six minutes. That’s all it took. It took six minutes from the moment I consumed a hearty bite of pecan pie for my throat to close up. It wasn’t until I was 15 that I discovered I had a life threatening allergy to tree nuts. Cases like mine are frequent throughout the country and affect individuals day in and day out. In the moment of consumption or contact with an allergen, a person with anaphylaxis must respond quickly and effectively to save their lives. The easiest way to do so? Inject an EpiPen into the outer region of the thigh. This past month, the company that sells EpiPens has hiked up their prices by nearly 75%. Meanwhile, the CEO’s salary has increased by 600%. The first time I ever bought an EpiPen pack, the summer of 2014, my family had a co-pay of $80 for the auto-injector. The most recent pack we purchased (two months ago) involved a co-pay of $130. We’re lucky, we have amazing insurance that helps battle the current cost (600 dollars) of these auto injectors.
So what’s the big deal with the price hike of EpiPens?
This price hike will cause EpiPens to decrease in accessibility. Most doctors recommend that sufferers of anaphylaxis keep at least two to three EpiPens on them at all times depending on the severity. Many families will opt to purchase five or six EpiPens at a time to keep in the car, around the house, etc. With the recent price hike, this becomes an increasingly more difficult task to do. Allergens are not easily avoidable.Whether it be insects, food, medications - triggers surround us each and every day. That is why it is crucial to always have an epipen on hand in case of contact.
The severity of allergens varies from person to person. Depending on the gender, weight, height, and severity of the allergy, an individual may need multiple doses of Epinephrine between the moment they have contact with the allergen until they get to the hospital. With the price of two epipens being so high, more and more people will be unlikely to receive the proper dosage they need.
School systems are feeling the wrath. Many school districts across the nation will be forced to pay hundreds to upwards of thousands of dollars to keep Epinephrine near by. Allergic reactions are much more likely to occur in children than in young adults. Primarily because many children don’t yet know they are allergic to certain triggers. Without having EpiPens on hand, the risk of anaphylactic shock in schools goes up tremendously.
The ever rising cost of these auto injectors creates not only problems with payments, but also tremendously raises the risk and potential deaths from anaphylactic shock. If an individual is unable to reach an EpiPen in the case of a severe allergic reaction, permanent damage and even death are right around the corner.
