Dobbin
Faithful Steed
We've changed our health insurance and the new program doesn't include coverage for prescription drugs.
Back in the days when I was unemployed, we discovered thanks to the State of Cow Hampshire website, www.canadadrugs.com.
The thing seemed pretty promising. Then Lipitor (my drug of choice) was about $318 for a three month supply from Walmart Pharma. This was about the lowest price we could find for "onshore" sources of supply. It was then I found Canada Drugs with a a price of $214 for the same item.
While we were there we had good service. Even periodic reminders to refill and keep that prescription ball rolling. Most of the Lipitor came directly from Northern Ireland in an overseas delivery - but that's where most of the Lipitor used in the world comes from anyway.
Then comes a new job and I decided to fit myself into the system. Health Savings Account and all that. I figured that the tax savings on HSA would be similar to the savings I would get by bringing my discretionary dollars up north of the border.
NOT SO. I just paid $129 for a one month supply of Lipitor at my local Pharmacy - and this was "discounted" from $158 which is the normal "retail" price. And true, this was paid for by "before tax" dollars which results in a monthly price of about $110 in my tax bracket. (Figure 13 percent?)
MEANWHILE, here is Canada Drug Dot Com advertising the same product for - get this $67.42! Almost half of onshore price!
True, I might have to pay this with "before tax dollars." But still. Something is dramatically WRONG with the system if it's that far out of whack of free enterprise.
I don't care if it's illegal. I'm shopping north of the border. My doctor is willing to play ball.
Now we'll see if the HSA will pay for Canada Drugs. They should - after all, it is just another Visa Account to Canada Drugs - and just another debit to the HSA.
Grr. It's things like this that make me want to vote Democratic. Guess that's almost a moot point nowadays.
Joe.
Back in the days when I was unemployed, we discovered thanks to the State of Cow Hampshire website, www.canadadrugs.com.
The thing seemed pretty promising. Then Lipitor (my drug of choice) was about $318 for a three month supply from Walmart Pharma. This was about the lowest price we could find for "onshore" sources of supply. It was then I found Canada Drugs with a a price of $214 for the same item.
While we were there we had good service. Even periodic reminders to refill and keep that prescription ball rolling. Most of the Lipitor came directly from Northern Ireland in an overseas delivery - but that's where most of the Lipitor used in the world comes from anyway.
Then comes a new job and I decided to fit myself into the system. Health Savings Account and all that. I figured that the tax savings on HSA would be similar to the savings I would get by bringing my discretionary dollars up north of the border.
NOT SO. I just paid $129 for a one month supply of Lipitor at my local Pharmacy - and this was "discounted" from $158 which is the normal "retail" price. And true, this was paid for by "before tax" dollars which results in a monthly price of about $110 in my tax bracket. (Figure 13 percent?)
MEANWHILE, here is Canada Drug Dot Com advertising the same product for - get this $67.42! Almost half of onshore price!
True, I might have to pay this with "before tax dollars." But still. Something is dramatically WRONG with the system if it's that far out of whack of free enterprise.
I don't care if it's illegal. I'm shopping north of the border. My doctor is willing to play ball.
Now we'll see if the HSA will pay for Canada Drugs. They should - after all, it is just another Visa Account to Canada Drugs - and just another debit to the HSA.
Grr. It's things like this that make me want to vote Democratic. Guess that's almost a moot point nowadays.
Joe.
