Another Reason for Universal Health Care - Out of Control Prescription Drug Costs

Yesterday's New York Times included an excellent story [1] about the rising costs of so-called "specialty" drugs, often prescribed for long-term and life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Some insurance companies have made subtle changes in their plans recently, charging subscribers a percentage of the cost of the drug, rather than a flat co-payment. So instead of paying $20 for a 30-day supply of a critical medication, the cost soars to $325 or much, much more for the same supply.

The article has a theme that is very familiar to all of us in the fight for universal health care: the increasing hardships placed on people who were, or at least thought they were, adequately insured. But as long as health care is dominated by private, profit-driven insurance companies, none of us will be adequately taken care of. The rising costs of prescription drugs as described in the New York Times article is another in the growing list of compelling reasons to move to universal, single-payer health care.