Readers Write: Millions of Americans paying excessive prices

The Island Now

I am very trouble over a concern of mine and that is the rise of drug prices by pharmaceutical companies.

More than 3,400 drugs have boosted prices in the first six months of 2019. The average price hike is 10 percent, which is five times the rate of inflation.

Now 41 drugs have boosted their prices by 100 percent.

Now I can attest to that. I’m 70 years old and my wife and myself are both on Social Security and Medicare plus supplemental insurance. And yet we struggle with drug increases.

I’m am working part-time to pay for some of these higher costs for my wife and myself. The other day I put in a prescription for medication which I have payed for about 15-18 dollars for the last few years and now I am told it is now $30.00.

Well that’s about 100 percent increase in my co-pay. I thought Congress was to address this problem for the millions of Americans paying excessive prices for their medication. Well what’s that all about?

It has come down to this: paying for medication or buying food, paying rent or paying the mortgage. This is a most sad situation. Something needs to be done and now !

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.

Mineola

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