I'm particularly fascinated by drug commercials on TV. Whenever one pops up, I find myself pulled to attention, seeing the healthy, happy and vibrant people, made healthy, happy and vibrant by the latest new pharmaceutical. </end sarcasm> The commercials are so warm and fuzzy, it makes you want to take the drug, even if you don't have the underlying condition.
The average cost for an individual health plan is about $280/month. The average cost for a 30-day supply of most MS drugs runs over $5,000 per month. Diabetes, RA and other chronic diseases are seeing huge spikes, even in the generic products. And, don't even get me started on the cost to treat toenail fungus: $20,000 -- really? And, how effective is it?
The Association of Community Health Plans (ACHP) produced a brief slideshow/infographic that highlights the trends in drug pricing. It's worth a look.