An Argument for Change in Health Care

Something very disturbing is happening at your pharmacy.

Assuming you have health insurance, your co-pay for prescriptions is probably somewhere around $10 or $20. At least, it is until you get sick and really need some important medicines. Then, depending on your plan, your medication could suddenly cost more than your monthly income.

In January, shortly after Ms. Steinwand renewed her insurance policy with Kaiser Permanente, she went to refill her prescription for Copaxone. She had been insured with Kaiser for 17 years through her husband, a federal employee, and had had no complaints about the coverage.

She had been taking Copaxone since multiple sclerosis was diagnosed in 2000, buying a 30 days’ supply at a time. And even though the drug costs $1,900 a month, Kaiser required only a $20 co-payment.

Not this time. When Ms. Steinwand went to pick up her prescription at a pharmacy near her home in Silver Spring, Md., the pharmacist handed her a bill for $325.