Mark Stoller and his wife, Andra, moved to Falcon with their family in 2007. Both are U.S. Air Force veterans and enjoy living in Latigo with their daughter, extended family, and adopted rescue dog. Mark is fortunate to have his wife and daughters as his muses for topics, people to meet, and places to explore.
healthcare industry
Written by Mark Stoller
Happy new year! This edition is all about health and there are many issues that affect people on different levels.
If President-elect Trump's administration is able to begin working for the American people, there will be a major battle between his choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr., against the National Institutes of Health and the Food Institute. We're going to see it unfold. His “Make America Healthy Again” campaign brought together the Drug Administration, insurance companies, and big drug companies.
President Kennedy calls for hundreds of layoffs at the National Institutes of Health, removal of fluoride from water, increased federal support for psychedelic therapies, deregulation of raw milk, and promotion of organic foods and food for medicine. There is.
As you fight this battle, always remember the Golden Rule. He who holds the gold makes the rules.
Big Pharma is one of the most powerful industries in the world. According to DrugWatch.com, global drug revenue exceeded $1.42 trillion in 2021. But nowhere else in the world is the pharmaceutical and medical device industry as powerful and profitable as the United States.
Big drug companies are also the federal government's biggest fraudsters under the False Claims Act, according to consumer watchdog group Public Citizen. The industry has a history of fraud, bribery, litigation and scandal.
Health insurance companies also hold the money that governs our lives. We pay money into their coffers on our behalf and help offset our medical costs. But some of you may have already received a letter from your health insurance company telling you what will and won't cover you next year.
I can't count the number of patients I see at the hospital who come to us in crisis because they can't afford their medicine. They do nothing until they are on the brink of death, and then they come to the hospital to recover again—until next time.
Another patient refused the breathing therapy I suggested because the inhaler he brought with him worked best. Two days later, he contacted me to say that his insurance company no longer covers Advair and he wanted to try our drug. He received a three-month supply of inhalers for a $10 co-pay. Currently, if he wants to continue using Advair, it costs $206 per inhaler.
Insurance companies operate based on cost, not what's best for you. They decide which prescriptions to pay for by creating a list called a “formulay” that outlines eligible drugs based on factors such as clinical effectiveness, cost, and potential side effects. Masu. Medications are often categorized into different tiers of out-of-pocket costs, with the most cost-effective options typically having the lowest out-of-pocket costs, and newer, more expensive drugs placed in higher tiers with more expensive out-of-pocket costs. A contribution amount will be required.
If you experience financial hardship because your medications are not covered, contact your insurance broker to find the best coverage based on your list of medications. Yelp has over 15 dealerships in Colorado Springs.
Another great help for purchasing medicines is GoodRx. They will not negotiate on your behalf. They set a fixed price for all prescription drugs. Visit the website or app, enter the name of your drug, and you'll see GoodRx prices by store/pharmacy in your area. I've used it several times and highly recommend it.
The original Golden Rule is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We have choices and are not victims of the financial whims of insurance companies.
