Discovering YOU Magazine January 2019 Issue | Page 16

4 Things You Might not Know about Prescription Drug Costs

Article by The CPPI from BPT Website

(BPT) - The high cost of prescription medications is an ongoing health crisis for millions of Americans who are desperate for relief. These high prices often force people to choose between buying their medications and paying for gas, food or even their mortgage. Many people are either skipping doses, splitting pills or forgoing medications completely, which creates a potentially dangerous situation as these medications are used to control everything from asthma to high cholesterol to arthritis.

Little has been done to lower pharmaceutical costs in the U.S. The following are some facts you might not know about pharmaceutical costs:

1) Lawmakers face resistance from pharmaceutical manufacturers who aim to maintain their high profits. Congress and state legislatures have put forth options

to address our country's high drug prices, but most proposals will take years to implement ... if they move forward at all.

2) The U.S. doesn't have any laws or regulations in place to prevent or control the amount of money a pharmaceutical company can charge for its medications. Americans already pay more for prescription medications compared to patients in any other country in the world, despite the global market nature of the pharmaceutical industry.

3) For years, the Internet has made it possible for Americans to fill their prescription medications at significantly lower cost through licensed, legitimate Canadian pharmacies. These online pharmacies prioritize safety and affordability, and millions of Americans have turned to Canada to buy their daily