Is anyone here able to afford their GI drugs anymore?

You didn't take it off track. It was already headed that way. I was just commenting on why some posters responded the way they did to beave's comments (regardless of how correct his comments might have been). You pointed out that there certainly can be cases where mesalamines could help chrohns patients.

Single payer seems to have its benefits and drawbacks. I've read several posts on this site from members from countries with a national health care system that have to wait forever (and try everything) to get on a biologic. I got my son approved for remicade in two days without trying anything else first. However, I am fortunate to have pretty good insurance through my employer.

It also can't be a coincidence that almost all of the medications (and even the surgical procedures) used by members here weren't developed in countries with a nationalized health care system. That has to mean something.

Post Edited (NiceGuyEddie) : 2/14/2017 1:45:19 PM (GMT-7)

Well, I guess I have to beg to differ with you on that. The vast majority of medical advancements (not just crohns) come from the US. You listed a couple from other countries (and continents for that matter) but you really think that compares to what's been developed in the US? Just about every medication anyone here is on or was on was developed in the US. Humira was a joint US - UK venture but other than that, I don't think there is one that you can name that wasnt entirely US based. Hell even ancient prednisone was developed in the US. Maybe you'd manage ok without America's input, but so far you certainly have not. Unless of course your using one of those Japanese or European treatments you alluded to (you might be). Think about all the medications you've used. Where were they developed? But I do hope those two doctors find success with their vaccines sometime down the road. In the mean time my son will continue to rely on medications from capitalist country.

I will also have to say that socialized health care isn't free. Someone has to pay for it. Maybe not with insurance premiums, but most of the countries that have national health care have higher taxes than I pay. The second law of thermal dynamics- there ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Post Edited (NiceGuyEddie) : 2/14/2017 2:56:09 PM (GMT-7)

I guess by disagreeing with you I'm being defensive? I can't bring up reasonable points in a discussion with you without being defensive? I just need to agree and move along I guess? Got it.

Post Edited (NiceGuyEddie) : 2/14/2017 3:02:28 PM (GMT-7)

NiceCupOfTea said...
It's amazing how defensive Americans get when anyone criticises their healthcare system, even while other Americans are posting about the numerous downsides.

It's because Health Care in the US has been transformed into Political Topics more so than any other country in the World. It's a Liberal vs Conservative argument and there are no in betweens at this point.

If you want to get really upset about the US Healthcare system then read about Medicare Part-D. It prohibits Medicare (FYI the largest buyer of Medications in the World) from negotiating drug pricing, this is one of the main reasons that health care costs so much in the US ~ 18% of GDP vs 7% of GDP for National Healthcare in the UK. So the US spends 250% more in terms of GDP and does not cover its population even close to the level of the UK. Granted, some fortunate people in the US have better cover than in the UK but that is not the majority.

guys in the states that are on humira should make sure to contact humira complete at 1-800-4Humira for copay assistance. my insurance through work changed this year and my monthly copay for Humira went from $25/month to $250/month with my new insurance company. when i almost chocked on the phone line with the call center at caremark the person told me about the copay assistance and to sign up with them, my copay now is $5/month! there are some good things out there its just hard to find out about them sometimes.

ks1905 said...
Medical discoveries are no longer national discoveries, they are usually collaborations with medical facilities throughout the world. Any medical experiment should be conducted on multiple populations with diverse genetic backgrounds.

This.

If America disappeared tomorrow (not that I want it to despite Trump), medical research would still carry on in Europe, Asia and Australia. And Canada, if that still exists. Why does America have to think it invented everything, when it didn't?

Have googled Medicare part D and am reading about it now.

Okay, having said that, I also would like to point out one thing: countries that have privatized health care may have a lot of new developments for the TREATMENT of diseases because they are in competition with each other and will make that much more money to be the first to have a new, better drug. Countries with socialized healthcare are not going to have as much money going into treatments but they are more likely to try to find CURES for things because a cure means they make more money. Treatments mean they lose money. As examples, in the US if you come up with a cure for Crohn's, you are going to lose money that you would make on the lifelong expensive treatments. But in the UK, you're going to lose money on treatments but save money on a cure.

and it never seems to be brought up

Maybe 'cos it isn't actually relevant?

Do you want me to bang on and on about how it was my former hospital which invented the j-pouch surgery? Or Norway which developed an ileostomy replacement that I hope one day I can have?

Where's America with the really revolutionary stuff, eh?

ks1905 said...
You can check out these drug manufacturers accomplishments below.

#2 in the World is Swiss /en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novartis

#4 in The World is Swiss /en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoffmann-La_Roche

#5 in The World is French
/en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanofi

#6 in The World is British /en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GlaxoSmithKline

I'm not saying great advancements don't come from other countries as well but are you actually debating that the US doesn't produce the most?

NiceCupOfTea said...
and it never seems to be brought up

Maybe 'cos it isn't actually relevant?

Do you want me to bang on and on about how it was my former hospital which invented the j-pouch surgery? Or Norway which developed an ileostomy replacement that I hope one day I can have?

Where's America with the really revolutionary stuff, eh?

I really wasn't trying to get you upset. I was just pointing out that one of the positives of our flawed healthcare system is that it does produce a lot of medical advancements. More than any other country. That's not even debatable. For all that is wrong with it, that's certainly a positive and you don't want even acknowledge that.

I'll list the mess my son is using or has used and the country where it was developed:

Remicade - USA
Prednisone - USA
Canasa - USA
A car used to drive him to the hospital for treatments - USA
A computer used to check him in - USA
The iPad used by the nurse -USA

Ok the last three were just for fun.

Post Edited (NiceGuyEddie) : 2/14/2017 5:36:58 PM (GMT-7)

NiceGuyEddie said...

The state analogy you brought up isnt quite accurate because all of those states operate under the same basic health care system. There is no discernible difference that would influence drug company's developmental process. My point is that maybe with all the flaws our healthcare system has, the quasi free market it operates in increases innovation. That's not a knock on other countries or saying they have never contributed anything to the medical field.

Huh??? So the Pharma companies are products of our healthcare system?

If anything the Pharma companies are products of the University System & NIH where more of the initial research is carried out. Then the Pharma companies take the research to produce a treatment on a large scale manufactured, safe, tested and marketed product.

Many of the researchers at universities are forgeign born. So if they find promising research that leads to a development of a new drug would that make it an American Drug or a Foreign drug because a foreigner pioneered most of the research?

I'll list the mess my son is using or has used and the country where it was developed:

Remicade - USA
Prednisone - USA
Canasa - USA

On a serious note, a 10-year-old child should not be on steroids unless it's an emergency. They are bad for adults; even worse for children.

Europe and Japan are more likely to use enteral nutrition for children with Crohn's, a non-toxic treatment which doesn't hinder growth and works virtually as well as steroids according to research studies.

And yeah, the USA created Remicade. That makes them the best healthcare provider in the world, why didn't I think of that before?