The $160 Prescription.
Oh American health care system... You fucking suck.
Sorry... Had to get that out of the way.
I had two doctor's appointments today. One of them was to see the best dermatologist in Boston regarding my adult acne.
Now, according to him, I don't really have adult acne. Well, not severe. You actually can't see it... But if you were to touch my face, you could feel it. I have had it for four and half years (which is, the same amount of time I have been married. Coincidence?), and I have tried various ways of getting rid of it...
Well, apparently, I was smoking nasty crack and delusional.
Three of them are covered. The only one not to be covered is the Retin-A.
And guess how much it is going to cost me to have it filled...
For the small tube, it's $160.
Now, of course I am just going to suck it up and pay for it. I want the problem fixed. But $160? For four ounces of cream?
Sweet baby Jesus on Christmas morning!
This stuff better eff-ing work.
Sorry... Had to get that out of the way.
I had two doctor's appointments today. One of them was to see the best dermatologist in Boston regarding my adult acne.
Now, according to him, I don't really have adult acne. Well, not severe. You actually can't see it... But if you were to touch my face, you could feel it. I have had it for four and half years (which is, the same amount of time I have been married. Coincidence?), and I have tried various ways of getting rid of it...
- Facials
- Ultrasonic treatments
- Topical creams
- Birth Control Pills
- Oral anti-biotic
- A gel of some kind (to be worn during the day)
- Retin-A
Well, apparently, I was smoking nasty crack and delusional.
Three of them are covered. The only one not to be covered is the Retin-A.
And guess how much it is going to cost me to have it filled...
For the small tube, it's $160.
Now, of course I am just going to suck it up and pay for it. I want the problem fixed. But $160? For four ounces of cream?
Sweet baby Jesus on Christmas morning!
This stuff better eff-ing work.
Comments
In any event, a tube of that stuff will last you a good long time! I'm still working thru my tube from last year :P
Adult acne is quite possibly the most unfair thing in the entire world. I too am sooooo over this shit.
I got two tubes of Retin-A for $10 (CDN)
-best wishes with clearing up your skin,
~Tiann
a) Pharma companies spend a ton of dough to develop cool but expensive drugs.
b) People who are generally healthy demand that 'the best derm in Boston' prescribe them medicine for purely cosmetic ailments which the 'best derm in Boston' says they barely even have. We insist it's medically necessary, even though our primary care doctor or an objective observer would probably not classify it as such.
c) We then expect the insurance co to pay for both the 'best derm in Boston', plus the cool new drugs.
I know it's more complex than this, but ABC are definitely factors.
Healthcare only seems free in Canada because you pay higher taxes instead of high medical insurance or prescription bills.
See, because the American Health Care System moves at an eff-ing snails pace (despite us paying a lot for our insurance - even after our companies kick in), you still have to get the "referral" to go see a specialist, such as a dermatologist.
However, when your PCP's office is so backed up with shit-tastic insurance paperwork, and they can't get you your referral number or paperwork in time for your appointment, you end up having to pay out of pocket for the doctor's visit, if you don't want to wait.
But did I bitch about having to pay for the doctor's visit to see the best dermatologist in Boston?
No. No, I did not. I was comfortable with that cost.
But to not cover a prescribed medication? well that's just bullshit.
People (in America) sit there and take a stand against national health care provided by governments in other countries... How it takes forever to see a specialist if you get sick with something... That whole shiz...
But you know what? I would rather EVERYONE have the ability to see a doctor and get treatment (even if it takes a long ass time) then deny someone care.
Think about it... You get laid off from your job and you then have to pick up paying for your health care out of your own pocket, in America. In Massachusetts and NYC, that is a huge chunk of money you're having to pay while being unemployed. Talking $300+, just for an individual.
Call me crazy... But I don't actually mind paying more in taxes for things like this, because it brings piece of mind for me.
i use One + One Pad system-- one side has salicylic acid 2% the other has benzoyl peroxide 5%---- i tried everything and i mean eveyrthing before this....the one pad system---which your docotor prescribes and costs 10 dollars--- was AMAZING. my skin has NEVER looked this good.
i wish you the best, but it took me 3 dermatolgists and a heap of dollars before i found what works.
zibby
P.S. I agree about the horrors of Heath Insurance...we just got a bill for my son's 8 stitches at Norwood Hospital because, apparently, they do not take Blue Cross and neglected to mention that when they took my health card and let me pay the $75 deductible. 8 stitches on a little kid in the ER== $2000.
And frankly, I think we do need national healthcare, to trim the ridiculous burden that our insurance companies have layered over the healthcare system.
But if we do go national, I also think we have to reduce investment in 'hot new drugs' and limit coverage for non-essentials, or we'll never afford the whole shebang. Pregnant? Covered. Heart Attack, generally covered. However cosmetic treatments or non-esenials? You'll have to carry supplemental coverage for those...
Good luck with your invisible zits though. (I mean that sincerely, despite my snarky tone)
A) don't even tell you what the product is for,
B) push things people probably shouldn't be demanding from their doctor (ie. depression meds. And don't even get me started on the pharm industry's kick-back relationship with doctors),
C) are featured in some of the most expensive magazines and on prime time tv.
These ABCs are definitely factors as well. Once you add them to the equation, AE, it's completely understandable why the Missus would be disgusted at how much she had to spend on her brand name medication so the company could off-set the cost of advertising in Vogue.
As an aside, I've found that the salicylic acid works well too. I only really seem to break out when I'm not sloughing off enough dead skin. Good luck, doll.
I have missed many posts as I was traveling for a bit then very sick with some cold virus I caught in Europe. Anyway...you may have mentioned that you tried this...NuvaRing? Low dosage, no having to remember to take pills, few side effects, for some. Worked for my acne - which was pretty bad, at times. Just a thought...
I'm hitting my first bikram class of the year tonight...I'm anticipating lots of pain. :-)
Happy 2009!
Lindy (Lulu)
I tried other forms of the pill and just didn't like them. Though I do hear great things about the ring.