Switch to generic drugs a blow to patients - Hawaii Editorials

[realmerv]

oof wrote:

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You mean those of us lucky enough to get to see a doctor who can write the prescription.

Does Maui also have a shortage of doctors like the Big Island? Being in Hana, I can see why getting to see a doctor is a problem ... especially if you don't drive.

I was wondering if the Maui doctors aren't taking in new patients like how it is on the Big Island.

[Kimo]

The Local Druged out Society should just stop taking drugs--PERIOD! The local Medical Community simply makes money by prescriptions and over prescribe, which is why you see so many whacko elderly persons--completely disoriented, and driving motor vehicles half conscious! Enough! First try every means of HOLISTIC healing, before you fall prey to these Local Quacks--who will simply prescribe to prescribe to create an Insurance Claim! The majority of Pharmaceuticals are simply poison to humans! Eat healthy, get plenty of sleep, wash your hands and face frequently each day, and exercise as much as possible. Drugs are addictive and only mask the real problems and more often than not most patients are mis-diagnosed.

[Mark Fontanella]

hate to say it, but I've been using generic statins for a few years now and it's been a great savings in my yearly health bill deductions. I can't see why people think just because it's not brand name it's inferior. I know that the costs that it saves me does a lot more for me than spending more for the same thing. Meds are regulated, it's not like drinking generic beer.

[Federal retiree]

As retiree of the Federal Government, I get my prescriptions by mail order & pay $10 for a 90 day supply of generic medications. For HMSA preferred-brand name medications, I pay $45 for a 90 day supply. If I have to get the medications locally, the cost is $5 for a 30 day supply & $20 for HMSA preferred brands. If the prescription is for a nonHMSA preferred brand, the cost is higher, based on a percentage. I've been ordering my medications from the mail order program for a long time & prefer it because of the savings.

[ugh]

What many patients and physicians alike do not realize is that just because you receive a letter informing you of the insurance companies preferred brand, you do not have to switch. Due to contracting that they, the insurance company controls, the cost to them the insurance company not the patient provides the insurance companies more savings. And check there very well may be slight differences in patient benefits i.e. known heart attack reductions, reduced hospitalizations from CV events. It is very important to know this and make an educated decision on what medications you want to take/pay for.

realmerv wrote:

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I also thought the switch was from name brand drugs to generic drugs. I was taking Avalide and paying $35 for a 90 day supply from InformedMail and I received a brochure which stated that the Preferred Alternatives were Atacand HCT, Benicar HCT or Diovan HCT. I ordered the Benicar HCT and was billed $35 for my 90 day supply so I called InformedMail in Florida and asked why I wasn't charged the $10 price for a 90 day supply of a generic drug. The Representative told me Benicar HCT is a brand name drug and not a generic drug. I looked it up on the internet and sure enough, Benicar HCT is a brand name drug. So besides forcing customers to switch to generic drugs, they are also forcing customers to switch into other name brand drugs.
I started off with Cozaar, then upgraded to Avalide which was working perfectly for me, now I have to test the Benicar HCT to see if it works for me or not.