If you haven't heard, one of the latest controversy is over the increased prices in our healthcare system. More recently, there has been a huge scandal over rise in price for the EpiPen, a syringe drug carrying hormone epinephrine to deal with life threatening allergic reactions.
The company Mylan bought out the rights to the EpiPen back in 2007, when the device cost around only $100 for customers. Since then, the price has increased around 500% making the drug now cost around $600. The irony is that while this is a life saving drug, the ones seemingly benefiting the most from it is the CEO and company Mylan.
Millions of Americans live with certain life threatening allergies and it is just unfair and cruel to make the American people pay such a hefty amount for something that could potentially save a life. It is recommended that users buy a pack of two EpiPen which would cost around $600, but users also need to buy this yearly because the drug does degrade after a time. That cost could break the bank for average people who are just trying to supply their families with what they need.
The other problem with this situation is the fact that when drug companies such as Mylan raise the price so dramatically, it causes a chain reaction. What happens is, the insurers have to cover the costs of the drug by paying more, so to do that, they either hike up their premiums or raise their deductibles and then off load that price onto consumers. The outcome of this varies on what condition you are in financially. While the more well off Americans will probably either take the higher premium or it will be employee-provided coverage (coming out of their paycheck they may not even see), for the less fortunate Americans, they will be stuck with the higher deductibles making the cost for the EpiPen come out of their own wallet.
Mylan has responded to the scandals by offering coupons to help with the out of pocket pay, but while that may seem generous keep in mind the coupons work like this; the coupon is only more likely to help, the lower your deductible is. The system is crazy and completely unfair to the average Americans who are trying to receive a life saving device for a fair price.
This scandal is just one of many, but the difference is this is gaining attention. The problem here is everyone is trying to get someone else to pay, which only causes confusion and chaos. The drug companies are trying to push it on insurers, the insurers onto consumers, and the luckier consumers onto their employers.
This unfortunate case has just proven that our healthcare system has a few bumps it needs to figure out and we as a society need to push it to fix them. So here's what you can do: continue to shine light on these unfair circumstances and show the system that we see the flaws and do your own research to gain a greater knowledge about what you are choosing to put your money into. Together a difference can be made.
