Lipitor $4 Co-pay. Not So Sure

Possibly some can get Lipitor for $4, but with my Anthem Insurance, my cost through CVS is now a $51 ripoff.

This scheme is so tricked up, it boggles the mind. According to my CVS pharmacy, when the patent expired and the $4 co-pay started, Pfizer DOUBLED the price of Lipitor.

So here's the trick. They say they are giving you $50 off, but it is apparently $50 off of the new doubled price. With Anthem, my copay is now more than $51, so I and others with Anthem (and likely lots of other insurers) now have to PAY MORE than we ever paid in the past. Ironically, I can still get Crestor for $25 with their loyalty card, so you can guess what I will do!

It sure seems that Pfizer thinks consumers have no choices, are stupid, and won't be able to figure this out. Wrong!

To add insult to injury Pfizer has apparently bought off many pharmacy chains requiring them to not sell generic Lipitor, in trade for perks or rebates they will receive - according to a lawsuit recently filed by a pharmacy which did not agree to Pfizer's terms. The source for this is Courthouse News courthousenews.com/2011/11/08/41276.htm

The lawsuit states that Pfizer is effectively trying to extend the patent of Lipitor by forcing the generics out of the market in the US - so that if you want Lipitor or generic Lipitor you will have no choice, at least in the near term

I'm no lawyer but this sure stinks to high heaven. I would be surprised if the FTC does not get involved as this sure seems as if it may be illegal, and as if it may be an unlawful restraint of free trade.

Greed is not good - no matter what the movies say. Pigs get fat, but Hogs get slaughtered.

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REPORT

Contrary to what CVS has told you, both they and your insurance company play a role in how much you end up paying for the prescription, due to the fact that they are the ones that have to negotiate for those prices or co-pays.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Lipitor/­

Therefore, you cannot solely blame Pfizer, and in reality, spending less than $100 for a name brand medication is actually a very cheap price. It may seem outrageous to you, because it is more than you previously had to pay, but the perspective is quite for those that do not have prescription coverage and must pay the full price out of pocket for their medications.

Just as an example, one of the medications that I take for my blood pressure is called Atacand and there is no generic currently available. Even if I were to use a one of the prescription savings programs, such as joining the one from Walgreens, a 30 day supply would still cost me $257.

So no offense, but for a name brand medication, your insurance is still saving you a lot of money.

However, if the Crestor would be even cheaper, then you should definitely talk to your doctor about switching, because there is no point in wasting money.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Crestor/­

Are there any questions or comments?

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Verwon, are you sure you aren't employed by Pfizer? I guess we'll never know for sure.

Most everyone knows that drugs are not priced based on their cost including R&D. Drugs are priced based upon their PERCEIVED value.

If you are so knowledgeable about what drug stores pay for drugs, are you debating that Lipitor doubled it's suggested retail price, and the grossly increased the wholesale price just before it's patent expired? If so, then you know more than CVS!

How many billions of dollars in profits has Pfizer made on Lipitor alone? 100 billion? 200 billion? 300 billion? How much money could you make if a pill cost you 2-3 cents and you sell it for a dollar each?

While the statins seem to be highly effective drugs, we don't need to stupidly and unnecessarily give Pfizer any more billions of profits on Lipitor. Their patent has expired, the party is over, and enough is enough.

Oh yea, I forgot the Pfizer "new" math. Patent expires, so let's double the profit, and then PENALIZE any pharmacy that won't sign our exclusive deal on Lipitor - forcing all other generic off their shelves.

It's all about profit and greed, greed, and greed.

If you want to learn how Pfizer allegedly made $10 billion in about 6 months with a simple trick related to generic Lipitor, check this out. bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-08/pfizer-ranbaxy-sued-by-pharmacies-alleging-lipitor-price-fixing.html

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I am curious. Does anyone still get Lipitor for $4? The 2 patients I know with good insurance cannot get it for that price since the generic is available. Insurance pays $8 towarrd Lipitor, Pfizer covers $75, leaving them to pay $45-50/month.

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Verwon just has to be employed by a drug co. Every word is drug company speak!

He has the audacity to try to tell us that $100 per month is a deal on Lipitor with insurance? Thanks's nuts.

Then Verwon says that $257 is an ok price for Attacand. Well dude you probably don;t need to shop around based on your employment, but if you were more through or more accurate, you'd know that there is a mfg. program with Attacand, and with some insurance and that coupon, you can get it for about $30. Duh.

Sad fact is that most of the drug companies are raping the public. No amount of PR or spin is going to change the truth.

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I am planning on moving away fro LIpitor to thr Generic version, Has anyone tried the swicth for over 6 months, If so iwould like to know if itwas just as effective wrt to LDL and HDL ratios etc,

Thanks

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Atacand Is a really good one for blood pressure. Is there no generic there yet?

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As a pharmacist, I can tell you that most of my patients have made the switch without any problems. But I am in Europe and most generic companies here are not the ones over there.

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