Ghost Of 1929 Re-Appears - Pay Attention To The Signals

[t.nie]

Read that whole article, it points out that yes, brand names are cheaper in Canada due to American drug companies enjoying a monopoly and no price competition in America, but generics are more expensive because the Canadian laws prohibit competition in the generic market.

So they say generics are 115% more expensive in Canada than the USA.

I'll take that deal. A generic pill costs a fraction of a brand name. So even if it is "115%" more expensive in Canada than the US, it's still not "expensive."

Heck, if a pill costs 5 cents here and 15 cents in Canada, then in Canada it's "300% more expensive" than here. So what? Still not going to break the bank buying them. The lower cost to begin with makes those cost comparisons on generics very misleading to look at from a percentage perspective.

We need to stop coddling and protecting big Pharma in the US.

[t.nie]

Seems to me if people weren't able to walk away from these through bankruptcy, that these issues would be taken care of by the market place and some well placed public service announcements. If you knew it was possible to end up with great debt, you'd be a helluva lot more careful about what it was you bought.

However, I thought it would be best if part of each premium went to a national pool to protect people against health costs no reasonable person or policy could expect.

It is possible to end up with great debt if you get sick. That happens now. And what was happening was companies capping people out on insurance, or copaying them to bankruptcy, etc.

The big difference I see between letting people file bankruptcy on health bills is you never know what you might get, or when, or just how expensive it can get. A severe illness or injury can cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

Student loans on the other hand are pretty finite by comparison. You can only borrow up to around $100,000, if you go all the way to Ph. D level studies. It isn't a bottomless pit, at some point, you hit your max and no more loans, regardless of whether or not you want to keep getting more education. It's not like an illness at all.

And you last line? Sounds like a purely socialist proposal to me. Be careful, there are some on here that will be calling you a commie next... lol

[Clayton_Wetter]

I get my drugs 90 days at time from walmart and very cheap 11 cents a day

That's a lot for sugar pills and placebos!!!

[15D]

It is possible to end up with great debt if you get sick. That happens now. And what was happening was companies capping people out on insurance, or copaying them to bankruptcy, etc.

The big difference I see between letting people file bankruptcy on health bills is you never know what you might get, or when, or just how expensive it can get. A severe illness or injury can cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

Student loans on the other hand are pretty finite by comparison. You can only borrow up to around $100,000, if you go all the way to Ph. D level studies. It isn't a bottomless pit, at some point, you hit your max and no more loans, regardless of whether or not you want to keep getting more education. It's not like an illness at all.

And you last line? Sounds like a purely socialist proposal to me. Be careful, there are some on here that will be calling you a commie next... lol

Demorcratized Socialism is what my political science text book would of called it. Generally I'm against it, but I think this is one area that it would do infinitely more good then harm. IMO anyway.

[15D]

Read that whole article, it points out that yes, brand names are cheaper in Canada due to American drug companies enjoying a monopoly and no price competition in America, but generics are more expensive because the Canadian laws prohibit competition in the generic market.

So they say generics are 115% more expensive in Canada than the USA.

I'll take that deal. A generic pill costs a fraction of a brand name. So even if it is "115%" more expensive in Canada than the US, it's still not "expensive."

Heck, if a pill costs 5 cents here and 15 cents in Canada, then in Canada it's "300% more expensive" than here. So what? Still not going to break the bank buying them. The lower cost to begin with makes those cost comparisons on generics very misleading to look at from a percentage perspective.

We need to stop coddling and protecting big Pharma in the US.

The system in Canada has so many governmental influences that it's impossible to compare it to ours. One thing that stands out to me is there lack of FDA that enforces some standards and testing for there drugs (I know, here I am advocating for regulation. I would say that if not here, then where?) Some drugs are manufactured with substitute ingredients that haven't been fully vetted. Awfully dangerous if you ask me.

I would be for a carve out in the copy right laws allowing the drug companies a longer amount of time to recoup their R&D for each drug. In theory, that should drive the cost of new drugs down some. Maybe some added tort protection would also help. Hell if a drug helps 1 billion people without incident and the very next person has a reaction that is unforseen, I don't think that should be worth multi millions in a civil lawsuit settlement.

[LITE-INN]

That's a lot for sugar pills and placebos!!!

its my anti obama pillshttp://www.4m.net/images/smilies/smile.pnghttp://www.4m.net/images/smilies/cool.png