I read with interest the news regarding the increased cost of drugs for those who have signed on with the Affordable Care Act. I am one of those who went from a co-pay of zero to a monthly cost of $299.62 for medication to control a chronic illness, ulcerative colitis. There is no cure and one can only hope to remain in remission. This, of course, means years on medication.
I am struggling to understand the cost going from zero co-pay to that high amount. This is a generic drug. I fully understand that a co-pay is in order, but this is outrageous. Please tell me what is "affordable" about that kind of an increase. Other meds for this condition are also off the wall in pricing. Prices range from $136 per month to $795. I have sent several e-mails to my insurer asking if this monthly fee will change after my deductible is met, but to date have not received a reply. I have not to date received a booklet outlining in detail the specifics of my plan. So goes Obamacare.
If you cannot afford to pay the higher cost, I suppose you stop the medication. This could be devastating with an illness like ulcerative colitis as well as many other chronic diseases. This problem will affect millions of people, young and old alike.
Perhaps the better route in this effort to make changes in health-care would have been to find a way to make the medications affordable. The drug companies hold the reins in this race, and it looks like they are in the lead.
Carmella Doppelheuer