Free drug samples can cost you plenty
When you walk through the food court at the local mall, you may notice employees handing out samples of some type of mystery meat on a toothpick. Some of those folks could have made good mainstream doctors.
They're not giving those bite-sized morsels to you because you look hungry. They're hoping to stir up the desire for more.
As the old saying goes, nothing in life is free. And certainly not those prescription samples handed out like party favors by mainstream doctors. You may think you're getting a bargain, but a recent study shows you're actually increasing your overall health costs for the year—just by accepting those freebies!
Researchers analyzed data from 5,709 patients who had participated in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. During the two-year study period, 14 percent of the survey participants were offered a minimum of one sample from their docs. And those patients were more likely to not really need freebies, as 80 percent of them were younger, wealthier, and privately insured—unlike their Medicaid counterparts, who didn't begin to receive as many samples.
But therein lies the crux of the whole issue: These free samples aren't intended to alleviate the sufferings of the poor. They're intended to hook the spenders— just like those free food samples at the mall. Except these samples are costing you money down the line.
Take a look at what happened to survey participants' drug expenditures once they started receiving samples:
6 months prior to the freebie, participants had an average of $166 in out- of-pocket costs for prescription drugs
during the 6 months of receiving samples, participants had $244 in expenses
for the 6 months after the samples were provided, the average patient was out $212
I believe the drug companies try to soothe their conscience. They claim that these samples help all patients, regardless of income, because patients get to "test drive" new (and more expensive) medications and learn about any potential side effects.
That's very noble, indeed. Especially considering that, as I just got done telling you a couple of minutes ago, it's taking years to find out what the full-range of side effects are from hormone replacement therapy.
Instead of mainstream doctors standing around like employees at a local chicken shack with samples on a stick, why don't they work to get you off of prescription medications altogether? They would be helping to salvage your good health— and your dollars.
I address the very controversial issue—for the mainstream docs—of getting off the prescription carousel in the May issue of my monthly newsletter, Health Revelations. To subscribe, go to www.healthrevelations.com.
