The high cost of medicine remains one of the hottest political buttons in this election year, just as it has been for the last several elections. The reason is that senior citizens vote–and they are mad as hornets about their drugstore bills.
Prescription prices have risen at three times the rate of inflation over the past four years. That’s why Congress was so anxious to pass the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act.
Unfortunately, a lot of seasoned citizens are not convinced this legislation represents modernization or improvement. The drug discount cards that were supposed to ease the pain of pharmacy sticker shock were recently unveiled. Instead of applause and sighs of relief, they have been greeted with puzzled frowns and groans of disappointment.
Seniors are staying away in droves. For one thing, choosing from the bewildering array of options has proven difficult. Because different cards offer medications at varying prices, it can be hard to figure out which one would offer the best savings.
For another, the playing field is not quite level. Once Medicare recipients choose a card, they must stick with it for at least a year. The companies offering cards, on the other hand, get to adjust their medication prices whenever it suits them.
It is hardly any wonder some elders have opted out and are choosing instead to break the law. Now, these renegades are hardly dangerous bandits. Their only crime is taking advantage of the substantial savings they can get buying their drugs from Canada.
The FDA continues to insist that such purchases are dangerous and illegal. Federal law prohibits re-importation of prescription medicines by anyone except the original manufacturers. But neither the FDA nor the United States Customs Service wants the bad publicity of putting gray-haired grandmothers behind bars.
Even though drug companies and the FDA oppose changes in the law, they may not prevail. Congressmen are feeling the heat from constituents. As a result bipartisan support is building to allow Americans to buy medicines from Canada. Even the AARP is behind this effort.
The association of 35 million retired persons got into trouble with its membership when it supported the Medicare reform. At last count, 60,000 had quit AARP in protest. Now the organization is leaning on Congress and the White House to decriminalize drug importation.
For those who don’t intend to travel across the border to buy their drugs in person, Internet shopping offers convenience. But it also requires extra vigilance to make sure the pharmacy is on the up and up. A new GAO report suggests that some drugstores along the information highway, both in the U.S. and abroad, may be unsafe or unreliable.
Here are some guidelines to help:
* Canadian law requires pharmacies to put their name, address, phone number and license number on the Web site. Look for this information.
* If the online pharmacy does not require a prescription, shop elsewhere. Legitimate Canadian drugstores require a prescription, which a Canadian physician must review.
* Call or email the provincial pharmacy regulatory agency if you wonder about the legitimacy of an online Canadian pharmacy.
