‘Your prescription with insurance coverage is $1,400’: Alabama COVID-19 affected person seeks treatment as drug costs build up

THIS CASE. THE $1,390, THAT’S THE PRICE OF PFIZER’S COVID 19 TREATMENT PAXLOVID. THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AT TEN. I’M GUY RAWLINGS AND I’M SHERI FALK. MEDICAL CARE CAN BE EXPENSIVE, AS WE ALL KNOW, BUT THAT’S WHERE HEALTH INSURANCE IS SUPPOSED TO COME IN TO ALLEVIATE THE COST. BUT WITH THE HIGH PRICE OF MEDICINE, SOME SAY THEIR INSURANCE ISN’T MAKING A DIFFERENCE. WVTM 13 S BRYCE OSELEN SPOKE WITH ONE COVID 19 PATIENT SEEKING MEDICATION THAT HE SAYS IS GOING TO COST HIM AN ARM AND A LEG. BRYCE, WHAT WAS HIS INITIAL REACTION TO THE PRICE TAG? MICHAEL AYCOCK SAYS HE COULDN’T BELIEVE THE PRICE OF HIS MOST RECENT PRESCRIPTION WHILE BATTLING COVID, BUT HE’S HOPING TO OVERCOME HIS ILLNESS AND HIGH DRUG PRICES. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID 19 LAST NIGHT. MICHAEL AYCOCK SAYS COVID HAS HIM DOWN IN THE DUMPS. I’VE BEEN FEELING PRETTY BAD SINCE YESTERDAY. AFTER SEEING A DOCTOR. AYCOCK WAS WRITTEN A PRESCRIPTION, BUT YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE HOW MUCH IT COST. THE DOCTOR CAUGHT IT IN A PRESCRIPTION FOR ME TO PICK UP. AND WHEN THE PHARMACY, THEY CALL ME AND SAID THAT THE PRESCRIPTION WOULD BE $1,400. THAT’S WITH MY BLUE CROSS INSURANCE. SO EVEN WITH YOUR INSURANCE, IT WAS STILL $1,400. OH, YEAH. YEAH. THAT’S WITH PUBLIX. AND GARDENDALE IS $1,400. AND MY INSURANCE THAT SHE SAYS WITH INSURANCE. AND SHE RAN IT TWICE. AYCOCK SAYS HE SIMPLY CAN’T AFFORD THE $1,400 BILL. I IMMEDIATELY SAID, NO, I CAN’T PAY THAT. AND DUE TO MY ONGOING MEDICAL ISSUES, I’VE GOT DIABETES TYPE TWO. AND HE SAID, I’M AT HIGH RISK FOR FOR HOSPITALIZATION. AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I REALLY TAKE THIS. THE DOCTOR SUGGESTED I TAKE IT. WE CONTACTED SEVERAL PHARMACIES IN THE AREA. SOME REFUSED TO COMMENT. OTHERS SAID THEY DIDN’T EVEN CARRY PAXLOVID, BUT ONE PHARMACIST WHO ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, RELEASED THIS STATEMENT. WE PAY ABOUT $1,400 FOR ONE BOTTLE OF PAXLOVID, AND THAT IS ONLY ENOUGH TO TREAT ONE PATIENT. CONSIDERING THAT PHARMACIES ALSO OFTEN LOSE MONEY WHEN WE DISPENSE BRAND NAME MEDICATIONS, IT’S NOT WORTH IT TO KEEP IT ON THE SHELF. A VERY SMALL SUBSET OF HIGH RISK PATIENTS WHO ARE PRESCRIBED PAXLOVID CAN SEE A REDUCTION IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH. THE AVERAGE PATIENT WON’T SEE A BENEFIT AS AYCOCK SUFFERS FROM COVID. HE SAYS TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. IT STIRS ME. IT BOTHERS ME. THE FACT THAT THAT THE DOCTOR SAID THAT WHAT THIS WILL BASICALLY DO. YOU GOT FIVE DAYS TO GET ON THIS MEDICATION FROM ONSET, AND AT THE END OF FIVE DAYS, THE MEDICATION WON’T DO ANY GOOD TO TAKE IT. SO HE SAID, YOU REALLY NEED TO GET ON IT NOW. THE CDC SAYS MOST PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOVER AT HOME USING OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION.

Up to date: 9:39 AM CST Nov 4, 2024

Some other people recognized with COVID-19 might enjoy sticky label surprise once they get their prescription for Paxlovid stuffed.Michael Aycock says he could not consider the cost of his most up-to-date prescription, however he is hoping to conquer his sickness and top drug costs.Aycock says COVID-19 has him down within the dumps. After seeing a health care provider, Aycock used to be written a prescription, however you would not consider how a lot it value.“The physician known as in a prescription for me to select up, and the drugstore known as me and stated the prescription can be $1,400 — that is with my Blue Pass insurance coverage,” Aycock stated.Aycock says he merely cannot have enough money the $1,400 invoice.> > PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Unfastened COVID exams, therapies will go back over fall and wintry weather, US officers announce“I straight away stated no I will’t pay that, and because of my ongoing scientific problems, I’ve were given diabetes sort 2 and he stated I’m a top chance for hospitalization and he counsel I in reality take this, the physician recommended I take it,” Aycock stated.As Aycock suffers from COVID-19, he says time is of the essence.“It disturbs me. It bothers me the truth that the physician stated what this may increasingly mainly do, you have got 5 days to get in this medicine and on the finish of 5 days, the drugs would possibly not do you any excellent to take it, so that you in reality want to get on it now,” Aycock stated.>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Obtain our app for freePfizer, the maker of Paxlovid, has coupon packages to be had on its site for the uninsured, or sufferers who’re on Medicare or Medicaid.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Some other people recognized with COVID-19 might enjoy sticky label surprise once they get their prescription for Paxlovid stuffed.Michael Aycock says he could not consider the cost of his most up-to-date prescription, however he is hoping to conquer his sickness and top drug costs.Aycock says COVID-19 has him down within the dumps. After seeing a health care provider, Aycock used to be written a prescription, however you would not consider how a lot it value.

“The physician known as in a prescription for me to select up, and the drugstore known as me and stated the prescription can be $1,400 — that is with my Blue Pass insurance coverage,” Aycock stated.Aycock says he merely cannot have enough money the $1,400 invoice.> > PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Unfastened COVID exams, therapies will go back over fall and wintry weather, US officers announce“I straight away stated no I will’t pay that, and because of my ongoing scientific problems, I’ve were given diabetes sort 2 and he stated I’m a top chance for hospitalization and he counsel I in reality take this, the physician recommended I take it,” Aycock stated.As Aycock suffers from COVID-19, he says time is of the essence.“It disturbs me. It bothers me the truth that the physician stated what this may increasingly mainly do, you have got 5 days to get in this medicine and on the finish of 5 days, the drugs would possibly not do you any excellent to take it, so that you in reality want to get on it now,” Aycock stated.>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Obtain our app without spending a dime

Pfizer, the maker of Paxlovid, has coupon packages to be had on its site for the uninsured, or sufferers who’re on Medicare or Medicaid.