Wednesday, March 21, 2007

4 is the Magic Number

We had a drug rep luncheon today. The Drug Dealer was as pleasant as she could be. Her excitement could not be contained. She told us that the ED drug that she represents has started a new marketing campaign.

Apparently, four is now a magic number for many reasons. Among them, the degree of erection is a stage four; I can’t think of either sex having too much to complain about in that respect. Four is also magic because when the gentlemen who take this drug and get it refilled consistently, their fourth refill is always going to be free.

I am all for affordable medicines. However, I have a real difficult time understanding why medications targeted specifically for women such as birth control pills, can’t have the same magical component. Being in the business of medicine, I don't understand why not only do BCP not offer any type of discount, many of them are no longer covered by insurance companies.

It doesn’t seem to make sense. Just something I had to throw out there to chew on.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

My mom works in a pharmacy and told me something wonderful the other day - welfare (not welfare exactly, it's the drug program for people below the poverty line) has stopped paying for ED drugs in my home state. I must say, I agree with the policy decision. I never quite understood why our tax dollars should be paid out for people to have some fun between the sheets. But maybe I'm a cynic.

Janet Kincaid said...

I've never understood why insurance would cover ED meds, but not birth control. Just one more example, I guess, of the continuing inequities between the sexes and the fact that it's mostly men who are deciding what's insured and what isn't.

I'm waiting for the day they event a BCP for men that stops their semen production...

wallofdenial said...

All you have to understand is that it is in the best long term interest of the drug companies and insurance companies to make sure women get pregnant.

What is best for the country, or the people involved is not an issue.

Just keep that money coming in!

Anonymous said...

OK, fine, DRAG me on the soap box...

Not only are BCP not covered by insurance, but routine fucking PAP Smears are often "non qualifying" because it's considered "preventative".

We'll cover a man getting a fucking HARD ON - but a woman's annual physical to protect her reproductive fuckigng health? mmm... yeah... no... sorry

Wicked H said...

Dionna: Cynic? I don't believe you are, I wish more areas would follow that policy.

JMK: Now that would be impressive; however I doubt any guy would take such a pill....

Dave: An interesting perspective, you are a hoot.

Brittski: This is why I heart you! I am off to get you a bigger and taller soap box.....

t2ed said...

I can't wait to employ the term "stage 4" in the coming future.

I think it may go along the lines of "Houston, we have a Stage 4 alert. Repeat, we are at Stage 4."

Wicked H said...

t2ed: You always make me snort out loud. Promise me you will report back when you do put your plan into action.

Robin said...

I have to agree with wallofdenial.

If ED drugs are cheap, wouldn't that cause a rise in the need for the BCP?

It's all about the drug companies making money. Which isn't such a bad thing, I suppose, if you own stock in a drug company...

Wicked H said...

Robin: The almighty dollar, you and Dave are absolutely correct.

The CEO said...

Why divide men and women artificially the way the insurance companies do. After all, ED generally happens to older men, although not exclusively, but BCP starts at a much younger age. You're just looking at the creative ways an insurance company can make a buck.

Let's instead look at a policy of the Aetna Health Insurance Company, where I am a client. I take a medication called mobic for pain after an automobile accident. Let's face it Vioxx is not an alternative. Aetna insisted I use the generic, and further that I get the medication from their mail order pharmacy. They sent me a three month supply and only charged me for two months ($25 a month, so the total charge was $50).

When Walmart came out with their pharmacy and offered generics at $4 a month, my Mobic generic was one of the drugs covered. Aetna dragged their feet for two months until I finally went to the doctor and got a new prescription.

I have two generics that Aetna will only let me get one month at a time, the Mobic and a statin, both of which I got from them on a three month basis. They seem angry I am no longer getting these generics from them. Makes me wonder how Walmart is making money selling it soooooo much cheaper than them. And Aetna is willing to screw men and women equally. Maybe we need Health Insurance Companys to be non-profit organizations. And maybe You, Wicked, ought to take over an Insurance Company, and you and I can see if we can do better. I'll help.