Those prices are typically cheaper than what we pay here in the US even though many of the drugs are developed and made here in the US. The drug companies gouge us a little more to offset their “losses” from selling to government systems. So in essence we subsidize most of the world. If we were to move to a government type system here our drug costs would no doubt come down, but costs would surely rise around the rest of the world.

Also, a drug company can charge more so long as they still hold the patent. Once the patent expires typically after 10 years then other companies can make a generic and there is competition. The system is set up that way because otherwise drug companies would never recoup their investment without a patent which are for the most part recognized worldwide with a few exceptions. A company can apply to have a patent extended and that happens too often as far as I’m concerned but that’s just my opinion.

It also gets on my nerves that not only do we pay higher prices for our drugs here in the US, think about federal dollars that go to R & D in the form of various grants. So you’d think we’d get a break due to that, but we don’t.

I think there is certainly some room for improvement with the current system we have, DUH! But when part of the issue revolves around other countries and other systems it becomes a sticky wicket in some ways.

Many opponents of a universal health care system here in the US insist if we put all drugs under a contract price like other countries then money for R & D will simply dry up. I’m sure there is some validity to that and something we should think about and weigh heavily. But I think some of those claims are a bit exaggerated drug companies in Europe still develop and produce new innovative drugs, just not at the pace their American counterparts do. I for one don’t want to be a party to killing the goose that laid the golden egg, but I certainly know all too well the undue burden expensive medications can put on a family.

I’m not defending big pharma here trust me I know how greedy and heartless they can be and they’re certainly not hurting for profits. But the effects any kind of reform might have on lifesaving drugs in the pipeline and those yet thought of is certainly something the best and brightest minds should sit down and discuss before we completely revamp anything. I’d like to think all possibilities have been tirelessly thought of and solutions derived….ha, ha….I’d also like to think I have the winning lottery ticket in my pocket. Please Congress can’t even read this bill let alone think through all the what ifs.

I have an idea though. Since big pharma has clearly gotten their monies worth out of their investment in viagra and other such pills….I say we put a surcharge on boner pills….name your price and all those revenues go into R & D for lifesaving drugs. Snark! Just a thought, maybe we’d see less commercials for them! Hey if they can tax botox they can tax boner pills, just sayin.

I agree it’s broke, and needs fixing. Decisions are made by insurance companies to not cut into their profit, decisions are made by government run health care because funds are short – that’s my guess.

They need to figure out why drug companies charge so much, too. It is CRAZY the costs they charge.

Congress members have private insurance. They choose from a collection of plans that the government contracts with to provide health care for all federal employees. The government pays a portion of the premiums and the insured in this case the member of congress pays a portion of the premiums. The plans provided are all of the HMO or PPO/PPC variety. In other words there are networks of providers by contract and in order to get optimal coverage one needs to stay within that network. This system works well, except when contracts with hospitals have holes in them where some services are not covered. This happens with most policies it’s just that most Americans thankfully have never fully tested their policies.

The VA is a fully run government health care system for veterans.

Medicare is a government insurance policy or social insurance I think would be the better term. Recipients see private doctors and go to private hospitals but the government guarantees payment.

Interesting article. Personally I’m sick of all the hype too. There is good and bad in every kind of system. For every horror story from Europe I could find one here in the US. Only difference is in the US it’s an insurance company in Europe more often than not the government. For some reason it’s the horrific rationing if a government denies something….but it’s just good business if an insurance company does it. I think both instances should be looked at objectively and without hyperbole.

I agree with many of the comments up thread. Why can’t we all take a collective deep breath. Take the time to look at all kinds of systems, what works and what doesn’t. Then try to learn by example and build the best system for our citizens.

I believe our system is broken in many ways. Anyone that doesn’t believe that hasn’t had the unfortunate circumstance to truly test their policy. I understand, I felt that way a few years ago myself, but tragedy struck our family and even with good insurance we went deep into debt. We also had to fight tooth and nail with the insurance company over basic stuff like chemo. I can’t tell you how many times chemo drugs were denied and it took months to get the bills paid, but hey at least those bills were paid unlike some of the other bills.

There has to be a better way and I’m open and willing to listen to all sides. I’m not married to any answer and in fact perhaps the best answer will probably be a uniquely American one. I am intrigued with systems like Japan which are similar to the Swiss system described above. Everybody has insurance, doctors and hospitals are private not government employees, insurance industry is heavily regulated like our utilities are for instance. That sounds like it might have promise sort of a half way point between full government and full private system.

So that’s my two cents

Obot troll?

Possible…

Had to re-write that.

But more insidiously, it has created a sense of entitlement completly contradictory to the American spirit.

Umm… paying +50% is an insidious sense of entitlement?? Yes, while in France we also had supplemental coverage but never needed to utilize it. Many seniors on Medicare purchase supplemental coverage too. There are Medicare withholdings on our American paychecks, we are paying for our future use of Medicare insurance once we are retired and do not have access to a plan otherwise. And right now American health care is rising 3 times the rate of inflation, how is that a successful model? Right now our cost for medical care ranks the highest in the world, leaves out 46 million uninsured, millions upon millions of underinsured, with a million insured and uninsured Americans filing for bankruptcy over medical expenses. Ask not what your country can do for you, Ask what you can do for your profiteering health care corporations.