Comments on: Insurance companies ripping patients off for generic drugs? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/07/insurance-companies-ripping-patients.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Marissa Miller http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/07/insurance-companies-ripping-patients.html/comment-page-1#comment-77062 Marissa Miller Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:28:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/07/insurance-companies-ripping-patients-off-for-generic-drugs.html#comment-77062 Under Independence Blue Cross' plan in Philadelphia, the insurance completely covering the cost of generics through the end of the year. So far, my husband has been able to get antibiotics for free. Under Independence Blue Cross’ plan in Philadelphia, the insurance completely covering the cost of generics through the end of the year. So far, my husband has been able to get antibiotics for free.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/07/insurance-companies-ripping-patients.html/comment-page-1#comment-77059 Anonymous Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:38:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/07/insurance-companies-ripping-patients-off-for-generic-drugs.html#comment-77059 Wal-Mart has a list of a whole bunch of generic drugs they sell for four bucks ($4) for a 30-day supply. It's a pretty impressive list. They rolled it out state-by-state.<br/><br/>Is the program in your state?<br/><br/>I say that because I learned there are some states where Wal-Mart is actually NOT allowed to sell the medicine so cheaply. Wal-Mart has the disclaimer "Program not available in.....X, Y, Z states".<br/><br/>It appears there are some states with a price floor for prescriptions. You can't sell the prescription below a certain price. I suspect the intent is to allow a profit for the mom-and-pop pharmacies.<br/><br/>Of course, the consumer pays the price.<br/><br/>Usually, pharmacies will price-match, so if Wal-Mart is selling the four dollar generics, the others will do the same. Wal-Mart has a list of a whole bunch of generic drugs they sell for four bucks ($4) for a 30-day supply. It’s a pretty impressive list. They rolled it out state-by-state.

Is the program in your state?

I say that because I learned there are some states where Wal-Mart is actually NOT allowed to sell the medicine so cheaply. Wal-Mart has the disclaimer “Program not available in…..X, Y, Z states”.

It appears there are some states with a price floor for prescriptions. You can’t sell the prescription below a certain price. I suspect the intent is to allow a profit for the mom-and-pop pharmacies.

Of course, the consumer pays the price.

Usually, pharmacies will price-match, so if Wal-Mart is selling the four dollar generics, the others will do the same.

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