Example: Imatinib is listed anywhere between $3k and $19k retail depending on the store you buy it (source: GoodRX). With insurance, you would never pay this amount. Without insurance you can use a coupon provider like GoodRX to reduce the retail price to as low as $120. I am told, but have no proof, that if you have no insurance and no coupon, the store will provide a “cash purchase value” that matches or is very close to the coupon price.
In: 7
Prices are made with the idea that the vast majority of people have insurance so they pad the price to make a profit. I have a weird theory that if insurance didn’t exist to be a middleman in the process things would be better overall.
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