Hepatits C treatment to begin next week. Guess what I just learned about the meds?

[Bertha Venation]

With my insurance, the meds will cost $60.

Without it, they would cost over $20,000. Let me say that again. Over twenty thousand dollars.

For one month.

This information has caused a strange mix of emotions. I am thrilled beyond measure to have a good job with decent insurance. I am disheartened knowing that so many people are just shit outta luck when it comes to necessary medical treatments. And I am furious that this stuff should cost so much.

[TZ]

1. I know.

But the price of these meds, as outrageous as they are aren't random. Biotech drugs are EXTREMELY expensive to make. My medicine in pegylated alpha-interferon, a very pricey drug, and pricey to make. I have a copay for $25 for a med that costs $2,800 per month.
With the prices, the only way those will drop is if we went to socialized medicine, because otherwise any company that tried to sell them cheaply would go out of business quickly. They also take a LOONG time to make. Manufacture of these products is one of the most complicated processes on the market today

[Bertha Venation]

2. I didn't know this about this type of drug.

My prescriptions are for ribavirin, peginterferon, and incivek.

Let me ask a stupid question. These are biotech drugs? I don't even know what that means . . . :dunce:?

[TZ]

3. Biotech drug basically means

its made from biologic materials that your body makes, but specially modified(all vaccines are biologics, or biotech by definition). Interferon is a modified cytokine which is made naturally by the body. TraditionalPharmaceuticals are generally adapted chemicals.
Many of these drugs are made by using plasmids, or other bacterial vectors to insert DNA/genomic material in specific ways. I am constantly fascinated by what new methodolgies are coming up. One of the things we are looking at is a BiTE type antibody which is a modified antibody with two prongs..each prong will attach to a cancerous tumor cell and in effect smashes the tumor cell in between the prongs (overly simplified description, but thats it essentially).
Sorry, hope I didn't bore you, but I really LOVE what I'm doing, and I love to share my knowledge of it.

[Bertha Venation]

5. Not bored - grateful.

Thanks for the information! I didn't know that you're in that field.

[Kali]

4. I can completely understand your ambivalence

but you can't not take something you have earned (insurance) and need (meds) - that won't help anybody that doesn't have those things. True just being a human citizen of this country should be all the earning one needs to do for decent medical care, but guilt alone won't change it. Getting healthy and staying involved is the only thing that will help. so...good luck with your treatment - keep positive and get well!

[Bertha Venation]

6. I agree with what you say but it's hard.

Especially for a bleeding heart like me, socialist that I am. (Okay, I've never read socialism, but what little I know of it rings true, at least in theory.)

Guilt changes very little, anyway. If only I could remember that.

I fully intend to get well!

[Demoiselle]

8. Get well soon, Bertha...

Sending vibes, hugs, etc. And I love that "Clean All the Things" cartoon!

[Bertha Venation]

9. Thanks, Demoiselle

and for the cartoon, go here http://www.hyperboleandahalf.com/ and read "This Is Why I'll Never Be An Adult" -- then read a few more and laugh more. The blogger's name is Allie and she is fabulous.

[kimi]

12. Yeah, I hear this

I got really sick about 12 years ago with an auto-immune disorder. Treatment was intravenous immuno-globulin, 2 big bottles a month, given in an infusion center. I was a military dependent (also a vet), so it was all paid for. Found out that each frickin bottle cost - I heard - about $4000. And the Air Force paid, not me. Just like they paid for all of my work-up to find out what was wrong, med-evac from Japan, etc.

It does humble you. Especially in these days, especially in the past 2 days. So many people are out there without means, and just cause I was in a certain category, I was covered. It makes you feel -- weird. Glad and sad. Guilty, yes indeed.

Best of luck, Bertha. You and your Mrs. deserve all the good health in the world. Take care! :)

[applegrove]

7. vibes to you Bertha.

[Bertha Venation]

10. Thank you, applegrove

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. *jaw drops* Holy cow! I understand your feeling this way. *hugs*