By now you probably know the write up of the life - saving EpiPen and the company that took it from a ware that generated a measly $ 200 million in 2007 and turn it into a $ 1 billion - a - year cash - printing machine . That company , Mylan , used a dandy little trick : It simplyraised the price . And it may have taken Congress and the medium awhile to catch on , but consumer definitely knew . In fact , allergic reaction sufferers were filing complaint with the FTC about Mylan ’s price gouging as early as 2012 .
Gizmodo has prevail prescribed consumer ailment about EpiPen pricing , all filed with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) , through a Freedom of Information Act request . And while they ’re not altogether surprising , they give us a mother wit of how much frustration the EpiPen pricing put Americans through . devote our split and fundamentally broken health precaution scheme , each EpiPen level is different .
“ A few years ago my atomic number 27 - remuneration was $ 45 , ” one someone from Vermont write to the FTC in November of 2015 about their EpiPen prescription . “ The last one I buy which has long expired cost $ 80 . I got a prescription drug from my doctor and just could not believe the playpen with no insurance is now $ 500 and my carbon monoxide gas - yield $ 200 , which I simply can not afford yearly . I am on disability with a very special income . I just require to cry ! ”
Illustration by Jim Cooke
The complaints start as a trickle in 2012 , with some people noting that they ’re abruptly forced to corrupt two EpiPens at a clip when they only postulate one . The price , of course , became higher for two . And as Gizmodo report last calendar month , the FDA ’s change to dosing recommendationsaround 2010is why they ’re sold exclusively in two - mob now . By 2014 the complaints come out to really pick up with direct cries for Mylan to be regulated .
Some of the complaints , as I mention , point to flaws more loosely in our health care scheme . Like one consumer who has to struggle with their insurance company over covering expensive , life - saving EpiPens for their boy . Another person had automatic billing and delivery set up with their chemist’s shop and learned that they owed over $ 800 because their doctor had dictate three packs of EpiPen , which apparently were n’t going to be spread over by insurance policy .
But it ’s clear that Mylan shoulder the absolute majority of the blame in the complaints below . Not that there was any doubt , but you’re able to see the price in the complaints steadily go up as the long time go by .
Below are a sampling of complaints file with the FTC over the past few days about incubus with the EpiPen . Some spelling erroneousness have been set to make the charge a bit more readable . Redactions were made by the FTC to protect the privacy of consumers making the ailment .
July 2012, Idaho:
October 2012, Tennessee:
My son [ redacted ] had 2 multiple RX ’s -1 for a 2 pack asthma inhaler , 1 for 3 Twin Packs of Epipen as demand for his severe food allergies at school . The inhalers ( 2 boxes)were filled as spell and bear down under 1 copy . The EpiPens were filled and charged as 3 copays ( 120.00 ) . Had I not had so many conflicting progeny trying to have the EpiPens filled as written , I would not have question this . The Dr ’s spot , pharmacy and myself were tell it would be cover under one copay , then it was 2 copays but one would be complimentary , then it was back to all three under one copay and the mean solar day it was to be filled , it was charged at 3 copays again . During the metre , the Doctors agency was told that Cigna did not want to bear almost $ 500 for this prescription . I then received a letter in the mail after take it at $ 120 stating the prescription medicine would be shroud as quest by my Doctor . I then called to question this again since the inhalator ( 2 ) were filled at one copay but not the multiple EpiPens . Customer Service tell me that was the monetary value for 2 inhalers ( 1 copay ) . I finger Cigna should honor their original statement and reimburse me $ 80.00 for the 2 extra copays that were suppose to be cover under one copay . These EpiPens are dead necessary in guinea pig my boy has an sensitised reaction at school ( 1 - self carry , 1 homeroom and 1 nurse ) . I also find that it is unprofessional for an insurance company to not fill a prescription medicine due to what it would be costing THEM as a company- do I really ask to compare what my crime syndicate pays Cigna for their coverage as opposed to the money they are claiming they do n’t want to make up for a prescription medicine ?
July 2013, New Hampshire:
I purchased an EpiPen which is used to protect me if I get a bee sting . The company now FORCES consumers to buy 2 which is an unfair swap practice . Each one costs over $ 100 ! We should have to option to grease one’s palms one at a time . They only last one twelvemonth and I have never used one , now I will waste doubly . As they are a practical MONOPOLY this should not be allowed .
August 2013, California:
Mylan Specialty manufacture and sells the EpiPen , an auto - injector gimmick incorporate Adrenalin , for those who may get anaphylactic impact from strong allergic reactions , such as foods or insect bunko . I suffer from a bee - sting allergic reaction , and have been carrying Adrenalin shot devices for 30 old age . I have a relatively mild allergy , but I carry an EpiPen just in compositor’s case . For my allergy I have always require only one dose . Also , the medicine is good for only about 1 yr , and I have typically been stung about once every 5 yr , so if I were to keep up to date with the EpiPen I carry , I would grease one’s palms 5 before using 1 . This injectors be about $ 100 , which I conceive a gamy price . My original prescription medicine , for an “ Anakit ” in 1984 only cost about $ 20 . begin in 2011 Dey Pharma , the subsidiary company of Mylan which sells the EpiPen foretell that they would stop selling single EpiPen , and only sell a 2 - pack , plus an “ practice ” auto - injector , for a lean monetary value of about $ 240 . For someone like me , who never take more than one EpiPen , and uses it one every 5 year , the cost of keeping an up to date Epipen spring up from $ 100 year to $ 240 year , and of the 5 year cost of $ 1200 , I ’m only in reality using about $ 100 worth of Epipen ( and in all probability $ 5 of epinephrine ! ) I guess this is price gouging , enable by Mylan ’s perspective as the sole supplier of this in the US market place in 2011 . In 2013 a challenger company is ply epinephrine auto - injector , but using the same publicity ruler , only selling a 2 - inner circle , and actually at a high-pitched cost than the EpiPen . ( They offer a $ 100 off voucher , which Mylan has equate . ) My conclusion is that there has been want of contest in this market , which Mylan has exploited by forcing consumers to overspend on EpiPens by a factor of 2.5 . If I trip outside the USA , I can still grease one’s palms single EpiPens , for about $ 100 , which is a more fairish option for many emergency epinephrine user like me . I hope the FTC can stop Mylan ’s scurrilous practice .
November 2013, New York:
Due to a potentially lethal allergy to bee stings , I am compelled to carry epinephrine with me at all times . so as to safeguard my health , my doctor has been write me ethical drug for Mylan ’s EpiPen for many year . Mylan is the exclusive manufacturer of the EpiPen . I compose to you because of a recent incident wherein my physician promise in a prescription to our local drug fund and when I went to break up up my prescription medicine I was given the “ 2 - Pak ” at a cost of $ 278 . When I inquired , my pharmacist told me that the EpiPen is now only sold in “ 2 - Pak ” contour and that I can no longer purchase just one at a prison term . Because there is no “ generic ” EpiPen my insurer will not pay for the prescription drug . In the past , I have paid approximately $ 100.00 for one EpiPen . Now , because of the two EpiPen packaging , I am forced to purchase two EpiPens at a cost to me of nearly $ 300.00 . An EpiPen is only good for one class . Due to Mylan ’s decision to only furnish the public “ 2 - Pak ” EpiPens , I will now have to spend nearly $ 300.00 annually to replace my one EpiPen only because I can no longer buy just one .
January 2014, New Jersey:
On November 29 , 2013 at 9AM , I received a call from Express Script ask how I wanted to pay for the balance I have in my account . I call back Express Script to elucidate the call because I am not aware of any exist balance I have since most of my medicinal drug are 100 % covered by my insurance or if I have a copay , the balance would be automatically infer from my HSA ( Health Savings Account ) . The first representative I mouth to can not give me the resolution as to why I have a balance of $ 817.82 . To get the reply , I logged on to my Express Scripts explanation online and then I found out that it was for the EpiPen that my doctor dictate for me . I ring Express Scripts right away and told the congresswoman that if the $ 817.82 balance is for the EpiPen , to please not fill up the prescription because I can not give to pay for it and that I will not be needing 3 pack of EpiPen in one clock time since it only indicated for pinch use . She say that she can put a ‘ blockade ’ on the prescription . I clear restate to her not to occupy up the prescription drug . On December 4 , 2013 , I see a software program outside my doorsill and it contains the MEd that I told them to cancel . I called Express Scripts mightily away and the representative told me that they will send me the return recording label within 2 days . Two Day have fade and I did not get any call or e-mail from them regarding the return . On Dec. 13 , 2013 , I contacted them once again and the rep that I spoke to said that they decided that they can not take the meds back . I speak to a supervisor and told her that I call Express Scripts in a timely manner and intelligibly told the rep that I spoke to not to fill up the prescription because $ 800 + is too much for me too remuneration for the EpiPen when on my past insurance insurance coverage I only pay a maximum of $ 30 for the same medication . I was told that they will call me back within 5 days after they reviewed the sound conversation I had with the rep who was supposed to put a stop on the ethical drug . Five days have past and I have not heard from them . I tried calling them again on Dec. 20 , 2013 and they said that they are still in the process of reviewing the phone call . Another week have yesteryear and I catch the same resolution . I got a bill from them on Dec. 31 , 2013 and it express there that they may not process any additional orders I might have until the equipoise has been paid . On Jan. 10 , 2014 , they are supposed to mail me my blood pressure medicament which is on auto - refill . I can not stop taking these meds and expect until they finish the probe which nobody knows when . I do n’t think that they should be penalize me for the misunderstanding they made .
November 2015, Vermont:
Currently , there is no generic EpiPen available due to the manufacturer ’s patent . Because of this , Mylan , the maker of the equipment , is allowed to charge what it wants without direct competition . And what it bill is alarmingly in high spirits . Mylan presently offers a $ 0 copay card that allows patients with insurance to reduce their copay on a two - pack of EpiPen injectors to $ 0 , up to a maximum benefit of $ 100 per multitude . This whirl is salutary for up to three package . However , there are many stipulations to receive one , like having Medicare . My RX insurance is Humana RX and Medicare affiliated . Their varlet tells me this disqualify me from the coupon . A few age ago my co - remuneration was $ 45 . The last one I bought which has long expire toll $ 80 . I got a prescription from my doctor and just could not believe the pen with no insurance is now $ 500 and my cobalt - pay $ 200 which I simply can not afford yearly . I am on handicap with a very limited income . I just desire to shout ! Mylan and others plainly MUST be terms regulated . I ca n’t find any other help program for this . I have publish to Mylan about this , in this month of Nov. , but there has been no response .
July 2016, Washington:
When refilling my annual ethical drug for an EpiPen needed because of my allergic reaction to bee , I learned I would have to pay $ 610 + out of sack . I have wellness insurance policy with a high deductible and this cost seems out of control . Even the generic alternative at Costco is priced at $ 500 + . This feels like price gouging / mending as most people wo n’t be able-bodied to forgo replete this prescription . Compounding the problem is that the medication is only available in a 2 - camp . I choose not to refill mine at that price .
July 2016, New Jersey:
My Word has postulate an EpiPen since he was stick out . Over the past 21 years the cost has skyrocketed and I can no longer yield it . My insurance society informs me that our out of pocket cost this year is $ 622.23 . Mylan tender a discount card of $ 100 , so I am still going to be responsible for for $ 522.23 . These pens expire every year and you typically need more than 2 pens ( 2 for school and 2 for home / carry on your someone ) . These playpen have not changed in the 21 class we have purchased them , I do n’t understand why the company can charge up these exuberant prices , especially when there are no option . I experience that the government should inquire if they are price - gouging . Are n’t there rules about how much you may change people for items and services during disasters ? Why does n’t something like that put on to life threatening allergies .
As you could conceive of , complaints to the FTC spike in late August of 2016 , as the news of EpiPen terms gouging went mainstream . As just one example …
August 2016, Indiana:
DO YOUR DAMN JOBS ! You pose on your plum duff while healthcare & drug prices are spiraling out of control with consumers continuing to eat corporate profits while they have to prefer dying rather than go belly-up ! Announcements today of Epipen & diabetic rakehell sugar strip making Brobdingnagian jumps just “ because they can ” . You hoi polloi seem to only have interest in protecting corporate interestingness rather than consumer interests . Your department , the SEC & any other consumer protection bureaus need to do the job we engage you to do ! I implore you to take an interest in these unwarranted huge price spikes .
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