26 June 2018 - The high price of pharmaceuticals has become a constant topic of conversation in the U.S. As medical costs rise, consumers face greater financial uncertainty. 

And day after day, both the White House and Congress make promises that they will lower prescription costs to alleviate constituent concerns, but few changes have backed up their words.

That said, time and again we are reminded that despite the rising costs of pharma, the medical industry is exceptionally complex and very rarely do patients see the real price tag of their drugs. And that lack of information – not to mention the number of third-party entities that get involved – creates a confusing and frustrating, and often bloated, price structure.

However, this is becoming increasingly evident to consumers as more individuals obtain high-deductible health plans (or have no insurance at all), and are tasked with paying full price. The range of pricing can be unpredictable and staggering. For example, Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) has a wholesale list price of $9.04, but an insurance discount price of $5.08 and a potential patient cash price of $129.98.

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