My nomination for This Week In Stupid? The fucking sick joke of a healthcare system in this country.
I know His Flatulency is trying to distract us in every way imaginable, but remember that there is a true crisis that we really, REALLY need to address. Right fucking now.
Imagine walking into a grocery store, reaching for a carton of eggs,…
My nomination for This Week In Stupid? The fucking sick joke of a healthcare system in this country.
I know His Flatulency is trying to distract us in every way imaginable, but remember that there is a true crisis that we really, REALLY need to address. Right fucking now.
Imagine walking into a grocery store, reaching for a carton of eggs, and being told it’ll cost you $450. Not because of bird flu - but because a group of rich men in suits decided you have no other choice.
That, friends, is what it’s like to have a chronic health condition in the United States of America.
I have diabetes. Insulin is not optional for me; it is a necessity. Without it, I risk blindness, organ failure, amputations, and ultimately death. And yet, the price of my survival is dictated by pharmaceutical companies that prioritize profit over human life, and by politicians who dangle “affordable healthcare” as a campaign promise while doing nothing substantial to fix this crisis.
Like millions of Americans, I am an independent contractor. I work hard, pay my own taxes, and receive zero benefits—no health insurance, no PTO, no retirement contributions. When I shop for health insurance through the ACA Marketplace, my “affordable” plan costs me nearly $600 per month after subsidies. Despite paying that outrageous premium, my insulin still costs $450 for a three-month supply. That’s a quarter of my paycheck just to stay alive - and that number excludes my other medications, co-pays, and other health-related expenses. And if I ever lose my job? I’d become just another statistic—one of the thousands who die every year from rationing insulin because they simply cannot afford it.
And before anyone suggests it: no, losing weight is not a guaranteed cure. I have tried. I am trying. I have made changes, I have lost weight, and yet I still need insulin. The idea that Type 2 diabetes is just a matter of personal failure is a lazy, harmful myth. Diabetes is complex—it involves genetics, metabolism, and countless other factors beyond just body size. And even for those who achieve remission, there’s no guarantee it will last. The truth is, no one should have to gamble with their health in a system that sees them as nothing more than a financial asset.
If I were to die because I couldn’t afford my medication, I’d want my corpse loaded onto a trebuchet and launched straight through the window of the nearest Congress member’s office. Because that’s how absurd this situation is: Americans are dying, not from lack of medical advancements, but from the greed of corporations and the indifference of those in power.
Healthcare should not be a luxury. Survival should not depend on income. And insulin—discovered over a century ago and sold for $1 by its creators so it could be accessible to all—should not cost hundreds of dollars per vial. The system is broken, and people are dying while we wait for those with the power to fix it to stop treating our lives as a bargaining chip.
So here I am, shouting into the void, hoping someone listens.
Because this isn’t just my fight. It’s all of ours.
Medicare for all is the only option that gets us off this ridiculous, capitalist, brutal, "health care" merry-go-round. Anything short of that is just window dressing on the old system. I'm sorry that this is your reality, Lisa Ferrara.
As a healthcare professional,, it has always struck me as counterintuitive that the less the health insurance companies pay for our care, the more profitable they are. And guess which party gets the right to deny coverage.
Healthcare for profit is a prescription for disaster. The entire developed world knows that and offers universal healthcare for all their citizens. But, not the richest country on the planet! Oh no…we must gouge the sick, injured and infirm for our profits.
Medicare had a chance until George W, the previous owner of the STOOPIDEST POTUS ever crown, turned it into a profit center with “Medicare Advantage.” We all now know who gets that advantage. More fucking billionaires.
All the money they spend advertising Medicare (dis)Advantage could be way better spent actually just paying some folks' hospital bills or paying for some of the services they constantly deny - services that might actually save them having to spend more money down the road. But no. That makes way too much sense.
I have so many "healthcare professionals" working on their own behalf it's become nearly impossible to buy some Indica chocolate bars. Easier to hit the street for some bud.
Given the fact that they want "Medicare for None," I'm thinking the "for all" thing is off the table. They *want* us to die. It saves a fortune in Medicare and Social Security if we're dead.
Medicare for all still puts the insurance cos in charge of pharmaceuticals. It's great for hospital/rehab etc but the pharmacy benefit managers (CVS) are raking in the dough and the Rx copays can be surprisingly steep which is why Biden also passed caps on copays for Rx via medicare plans. It just needs to be legislated across the board that no matter who dispenses insulin under any insurance or pharma program it's capped. Period. End of negotiation and fuckery.
Medicare for all is necessary since those of us on Medicare can’t see a doctor because reimbursement rates are too and any doctor can choose to not accept Medicare if they don’t want it. I just retired a year ago and have yet to find a doctor because of this.
Great job showing the struggle for healthcare and medications. Biden and Harris understood it. Most Democrats do. The Gushing Over Putin party DOES NOT CARE that they are literally killing people by omission. Best wishes to you.
Thank you - and I agree. Biden and Harris, and before them Obama, at least *tried* to improve things. This current administration can eat my liberal ass and choke on a peanut in the process. And I hope THEIR insurance doesn't cover ass peanuts.
Yes, I know I'm vulgar, but I'm also fucking enraged.
Anybody who replies to you that you are "vulgar" should be ashamed. I live in the UK - all my healthcare is covered - and I cannot tell how enraged I am by you story. Swearing doesn't even seem to cover it. But five gold stars for the trebuchet idea. America - such a wealthy country - with so many impoverished people.
We were wealthy; were being the operative word. Musk/Trump are trying their best to completely ruin us then invite their Russian and Chinese buddies over to feast on the carcass. It will take decades to recover if we ever regain some semblance of power again. It’s a truly bad situation.
Politicians pass laws with loopholes that elephants can walk through. They're more interested protecting their stock portfolios than they are the American public. I'm really sorry you're suffering. Suffering and fear is what politicians grift off of. It's their bread and butter. We are not governed, we are owned. Our elected politicians have abandoned us. As the Bishop says, "When one worships power, compassion and mercy become sins." This is only going to get worse. Greed will end democracy. Fuck all of them.
This is what for-profit, fee-for-service medicine buys us. We could have national healthcare which covered every American for about 60% of our current expenditure but not with rethuglicans around. What you are going through is very common but utterly unacceptable. I am sorry.
Healthcare for all would mean dismantling the entire insurance vampire hold on healthcare. A very good thing, but they won’t let go easily. If at all. But it should happen.
Lisa, I’m saddened to read your post this morning and becoming angry that you as a citizen in the largest and richest western democracy is living paycheque to paycheque to survive Type 2 diabetes at the ungodly price of $450 for a 3-month vial of insulin. For all Americans reading this, please note that those among you who think that Canada’s universal healthcare is a socialist endeavor, let me make it quite clear, that the costs of your health care far exceeds the portion of my taxes that helps support our healthcare system. In the case of insulin, our cost in Canada is CA$35.00 for a 1-month supply, equivalent to US$24.60 @ an exchange rate of $1.42305, cheaper than what Biden had negotiated for seniors when he was in office.
It is unbelievable that in 2025, you’re having the same debate that you’ve had since as far back as I can remember and I’ll soon be 77.
Lisa, I have done additional research for you on the processes that exist to facilitate you purchasing medication from 🇨🇦. Canadian pharmacies require a prescription from an authorized Canadian practitioner, but American doctors can call or fax prescriptions to Canadian pharmacies to be filled through a process called “cosigning.” Through this process, a Canadian healthcare provider reviews the U.S.-provided prescription and the patient’s medical history, and, if the prescription is approved, it is re-issued as a Canadian prescription.
As well, purchasing meds online is allowed, although a lot of research is required in order to do so safely: “The FDA allows customers to purchase drugs from Canadian online pharmacies and have them shipped to the U.S. under the same guidelines that regulate bringing drugs across the border. That means that you will need a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, and the drugs must be approved for use in the U.S.” if you google this it provides tips on how to avoid scams.
Lisa, before Medicare, when I couldn't afford my meds, my Dr would give me samples she got from the drug reps. That was 20yrs ago. Also, ask Dr &. nurse about patient asst. programs. Free or sliding scale. One Dr said there's nothing like that. I asked *nurse* "oh yes! Which meds do you need?". She had a pile of brochures.
Thank you for this information. I'm 60 and diabetic, as well as dealing with other health conditions and disabilities. I've always lived in the U.S. and I now wonder if I'll die here much sooner than I'd thought, due to the health care system.
Unfortunately, Ozempic must be refrigerated so I’m not sure if it can be mailed from Canada. If you live close to the border, picking it up yourself might be an option.
I'm sorry you are going through this and I want everyone in this administration to read your plea! This is sickening to hear that millions of people are fighting for their lives while jackasses are screwing around on taxpayer's money and doing nothing resolving nothing destroying everything we hold dear. I'm praying for you and yours.
Ethyl's Bad Egg, now Secretary of HHS, wants to create "Wellness Farms" to address our imaginary addiction to antidepressants and other pharmaceuticals. The inmates of this Orwellian solution would perform agricultural work for little or no pay. Inner-city black youth would be the primo target for this plantation and would enjoy "reparenting" by a "healthy" community.
I’m sorry you are going through this health trauma. Everything you say is 100% true. I had crap insurance until I finally got old enough for Medicare. It’s fantastic & really should just be offered to all. Unfortunately, we will probably lose it with this corrupt administration
I don’t know if this helps. You may qualify for free meds from the manufacturer if your income is below a certain level. That level is relatively high. That’s how I get mine, though I’m living on social security. Go to the manufacturer’s website to get the information. I hope it works for you!
Yes, we are the only (a-hem?) first world nation living with a cruel and criminal wealth-care system. And note that so-called Medicare Advantage is nothing but for-profit insurance raking in $$ for their CEO’s and shareholders as they restrict, deny, and delay care,causing harm and even death.
Universal healthcare or Medicare 4 All , with no profitizing middleman is what works, as other nations have proven. Note that several states, like Washington, are working to start a state-wide single-payer system.
The greed of the wealthy knows no limits. The more they have, the more they think they should have. At your expense. "His Flatulency" is one of the best I've heard. Best wishes.
And what most people don't realize is we are all one broken back or hip or shattered ankle, one fractured skull, one heart attack, one stroke, one malignant tumor, one ruptured ectopic pregnancy, one autoimmune disorder, one diagnosis of juvenile diabetes OR diabetes type 2 away from job loss, bankruptcy, loss of home, hunger and endless, endless bills. What a game of chance we play with this American health system. And those billionaires controlling all this? They've never paid a dime of health insurance. And if they've ever paid a pharmacy or hospital bill it's a mere drop out of a huge bucket for them. So they have no clue, no clue at all what it's like to live on this precipice that everyone of the rest of us lives on. And yet all the cards are in their hands. W.T.F.
And the new Ozempic type drugs which have revolutionized weight loss and the treatment of type 2 diabetes………often cost $900 a month, even with insurance
You may want to check with NovoNordisk to see if they are still offering a plan for people who cannot afford the medication. I couldn’t find the specific link on the website.
My nomination for This Week In Stupid? The fucking sick joke of a healthcare system in this country.
I know His Flatulency is trying to distract us in every way imaginable, but remember that there is a true crisis that we really, REALLY need to address. Right fucking now.
Imagine walking into a grocery store, reaching for a carton of eggs, and being told it’ll cost you $450. Not because of bird flu - but because a group of rich men in suits decided you have no other choice.
That, friends, is what it’s like to have a chronic health condition in the United States of America.
I have diabetes. Insulin is not optional for me; it is a necessity. Without it, I risk blindness, organ failure, amputations, and ultimately death. And yet, the price of my survival is dictated by pharmaceutical companies that prioritize profit over human life, and by politicians who dangle “affordable healthcare” as a campaign promise while doing nothing substantial to fix this crisis.
Like millions of Americans, I am an independent contractor. I work hard, pay my own taxes, and receive zero benefits—no health insurance, no PTO, no retirement contributions. When I shop for health insurance through the ACA Marketplace, my “affordable” plan costs me nearly $600 per month after subsidies. Despite paying that outrageous premium, my insulin still costs $450 for a three-month supply. That’s a quarter of my paycheck just to stay alive - and that number excludes my other medications, co-pays, and other health-related expenses. And if I ever lose my job? I’d become just another statistic—one of the thousands who die every year from rationing insulin because they simply cannot afford it.
And before anyone suggests it: no, losing weight is not a guaranteed cure. I have tried. I am trying. I have made changes, I have lost weight, and yet I still need insulin. The idea that Type 2 diabetes is just a matter of personal failure is a lazy, harmful myth. Diabetes is complex—it involves genetics, metabolism, and countless other factors beyond just body size. And even for those who achieve remission, there’s no guarantee it will last. The truth is, no one should have to gamble with their health in a system that sees them as nothing more than a financial asset.
If I were to die because I couldn’t afford my medication, I’d want my corpse loaded onto a trebuchet and launched straight through the window of the nearest Congress member’s office. Because that’s how absurd this situation is: Americans are dying, not from lack of medical advancements, but from the greed of corporations and the indifference of those in power.
Healthcare should not be a luxury. Survival should not depend on income. And insulin—discovered over a century ago and sold for $1 by its creators so it could be accessible to all—should not cost hundreds of dollars per vial. The system is broken, and people are dying while we wait for those with the power to fix it to stop treating our lives as a bargaining chip.
So here I am, shouting into the void, hoping someone listens.
Because this isn’t just my fight. It’s all of ours.
Medicare for all is the only option that gets us off this ridiculous, capitalist, brutal, "health care" merry-go-round. Anything short of that is just window dressing on the old system. I'm sorry that this is your reality, Lisa Ferrara.
As a healthcare professional,, it has always struck me as counterintuitive that the less the health insurance companies pay for our care, the more profitable they are. And guess which party gets the right to deny coverage.
Healthcare for profit is a prescription for disaster. The entire developed world knows that and offers universal healthcare for all their citizens. But, not the richest country on the planet! Oh no…we must gouge the sick, injured and infirm for our profits.
Medicare had a chance until George W, the previous owner of the STOOPIDEST POTUS ever crown, turned it into a profit center with “Medicare Advantage.” We all now know who gets that advantage. More fucking billionaires.
Everyone but us
All the money they spend advertising Medicare (dis)Advantage could be way better spent actually just paying some folks' hospital bills or paying for some of the services they constantly deny - services that might actually save them having to spend more money down the road. But no. That makes way too much sense.
I have so many "healthcare professionals" working on their own behalf it's become nearly impossible to buy some Indica chocolate bars. Easier to hit the street for some bud.
Doc - ditto. At some point, it dawned on me that plumbers made more $ /hr than I did. So I got off all insurance panels. Still in healthcare…
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/files/2024/12/Ensurance.jpg
Thank you, Carol. You are 100% correct. Hoping Medicare For All becomes a reality in my lifetime.
Given the fact that they want "Medicare for None," I'm thinking the "for all" thing is off the table. They *want* us to die. It saves a fortune in Medicare and Social Security if we're dead.
Pessimism I actually agree with.
And bonus, they get to steal all the SS money.
Medicare for all still puts the insurance cos in charge of pharmaceuticals. It's great for hospital/rehab etc but the pharmacy benefit managers (CVS) are raking in the dough and the Rx copays can be surprisingly steep which is why Biden also passed caps on copays for Rx via medicare plans. It just needs to be legislated across the board that no matter who dispenses insulin under any insurance or pharma program it's capped. Period. End of negotiation and fuckery.
You definitely make a good point.
I'm a licensed insurance agent. I don't sell but I do know where the grifting happens. Good luck and keep us posted!
Medicare for all is necessary since those of us on Medicare can’t see a doctor because reimbursement rates are too and any doctor can choose to not accept Medicare if they don’t want it. I just retired a year ago and have yet to find a doctor because of this.
Great job showing the struggle for healthcare and medications. Biden and Harris understood it. Most Democrats do. The Gushing Over Putin party DOES NOT CARE that they are literally killing people by omission. Best wishes to you.
Thank you - and I agree. Biden and Harris, and before them Obama, at least *tried* to improve things. This current administration can eat my liberal ass and choke on a peanut in the process. And I hope THEIR insurance doesn't cover ass peanuts.
Yes, I know I'm vulgar, but I'm also fucking enraged.
Anybody who replies to you that you are "vulgar" should be ashamed. I live in the UK - all my healthcare is covered - and I cannot tell how enraged I am by you story. Swearing doesn't even seem to cover it. But five gold stars for the trebuchet idea. America - such a wealthy country - with so many impoverished people.
We were wealthy; were being the operative word. Musk/Trump are trying their best to completely ruin us then invite their Russian and Chinese buddies over to feast on the carcass. It will take decades to recover if we ever regain some semblance of power again. It’s a truly bad situation.
Politicians pass laws with loopholes that elephants can walk through. They're more interested protecting their stock portfolios than they are the American public. I'm really sorry you're suffering. Suffering and fear is what politicians grift off of. It's their bread and butter. We are not governed, we are owned. Our elected politicians have abandoned us. As the Bishop says, "When one worships power, compassion and mercy become sins." This is only going to get worse. Greed will end democracy. Fuck all of them.
I think the trebuchet should be aimed at the White House
I'm still breathing but if that changes anytime soon, I volunteer as tribute. 🤣
Hang in there. The tide will turn. America won’t bow down without a fight
We like vulgar!
The Republican Jiz socks who are allergic to peanuts - let them eat corn 🖕
🤣🤣🤣🤣 YES.
Lisa - be vulgar - if it offends anyone, they lack empathy
Right on. You are speaking truth about so many of us being left behind by shit healthcare and insurance and pharma extortion.
They deserve every thing you said
This is what for-profit, fee-for-service medicine buys us. We could have national healthcare which covered every American for about 60% of our current expenditure but not with rethuglicans around. What you are going through is very common but utterly unacceptable. I am sorry.
my deepest fear here in Canada with trump's 51st state threats - losing our universal health coverage
Not to worry. Never gonna happen.
Healthcare for all would mean dismantling the entire insurance vampire hold on healthcare. A very good thing, but they won’t let go easily. If at all. But it should happen.
Lisa, I’m saddened to read your post this morning and becoming angry that you as a citizen in the largest and richest western democracy is living paycheque to paycheque to survive Type 2 diabetes at the ungodly price of $450 for a 3-month vial of insulin. For all Americans reading this, please note that those among you who think that Canada’s universal healthcare is a socialist endeavor, let me make it quite clear, that the costs of your health care far exceeds the portion of my taxes that helps support our healthcare system. In the case of insulin, our cost in Canada is CA$35.00 for a 1-month supply, equivalent to US$24.60 @ an exchange rate of $1.42305, cheaper than what Biden had negotiated for seniors when he was in office.
It is unbelievable that in 2025, you’re having the same debate that you’ve had since as far back as I can remember and I’ll soon be 77.
Lisa, I have done additional research for you on the processes that exist to facilitate you purchasing medication from 🇨🇦. Canadian pharmacies require a prescription from an authorized Canadian practitioner, but American doctors can call or fax prescriptions to Canadian pharmacies to be filled through a process called “cosigning.” Through this process, a Canadian healthcare provider reviews the U.S.-provided prescription and the patient’s medical history, and, if the prescription is approved, it is re-issued as a Canadian prescription.
As well, purchasing meds online is allowed, although a lot of research is required in order to do so safely: “The FDA allows customers to purchase drugs from Canadian online pharmacies and have them shipped to the U.S. under the same guidelines that regulate bringing drugs across the border. That means that you will need a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, and the drugs must be approved for use in the U.S.” if you google this it provides tips on how to avoid scams.
This is from singlecare.com
Thank you. Hopefully my PCP is willing to go this route.
And Lisa, look at Mark Cuban’s pharmacy website also. He is bound and determined to help people out. https://www.costplusdrugs.com/
https://www.costplusdrugs.com/
Maybe do it before tariffs get into place. If you have a good primary and mention tariffs they might be more motivated to assist.
Lisa, before Medicare, when I couldn't afford my meds, my Dr would give me samples she got from the drug reps. That was 20yrs ago. Also, ask Dr &. nurse about patient asst. programs. Free or sliding scale. One Dr said there's nothing like that. I asked *nurse* "oh yes! Which meds do you need?". She had a pile of brochures.
How great is a country in which so many citizens literally cannot afford to remain alive?
Thank you for this information. I'm 60 and diabetic, as well as dealing with other health conditions and disabilities. I've always lived in the U.S. and I now wonder if I'll die here much sooner than I'd thought, due to the health care system.
Ben,are you on Medicare? Part D?
Thank you for sharing this. I'm in the border near Toronto so this is actually good to know.
Thank you!!!
Unfortunately, Ozempic must be refrigerated so I’m not sure if it can be mailed from Canada. If you live close to the border, picking it up yourself might be an option.
I'm sorry you are going through this and I want everyone in this administration to read your plea! This is sickening to hear that millions of people are fighting for their lives while jackasses are screwing around on taxpayer's money and doing nothing resolving nothing destroying everything we hold dear. I'm praying for you and yours.
Thank you, Denise. Much appreciated 💕
Ethyl's Bad Egg, now Secretary of HHS, wants to create "Wellness Farms" to address our imaginary addiction to antidepressants and other pharmaceuticals. The inmates of this Orwellian solution would perform agricultural work for little or no pay. Inner-city black youth would be the primo target for this plantation and would enjoy "reparenting" by a "healthy" community.
What color is the sky bobby brainworms world ? or is he just projecting hugely ?
He might want to do something for the 5 countries in Texas that have measles going on.
I’m sorry you are going through this health trauma. Everything you say is 100% true. I had crap insurance until I finally got old enough for Medicare. It’s fantastic & really should just be offered to all. Unfortunately, we will probably lose it with this corrupt administration
👏👏👏👏
I don’t know if this helps. You may qualify for free meds from the manufacturer if your income is below a certain level. That level is relatively high. That’s how I get mine, though I’m living on social security. Go to the manufacturer’s website to get the information. I hope it works for you!
Yes, we are the only (a-hem?) first world nation living with a cruel and criminal wealth-care system. And note that so-called Medicare Advantage is nothing but for-profit insurance raking in $$ for their CEO’s and shareholders as they restrict, deny, and delay care,causing harm and even death.
Universal healthcare or Medicare 4 All , with no profitizing middleman is what works, as other nations have proven. Note that several states, like Washington, are working to start a state-wide single-payer system.
The greed of the wealthy knows no limits. The more they have, the more they think they should have. At your expense. "His Flatulency" is one of the best I've heard. Best wishes.
And what most people don't realize is we are all one broken back or hip or shattered ankle, one fractured skull, one heart attack, one stroke, one malignant tumor, one ruptured ectopic pregnancy, one autoimmune disorder, one diagnosis of juvenile diabetes OR diabetes type 2 away from job loss, bankruptcy, loss of home, hunger and endless, endless bills. What a game of chance we play with this American health system. And those billionaires controlling all this? They've never paid a dime of health insurance. And if they've ever paid a pharmacy or hospital bill it's a mere drop out of a huge bucket for them. So they have no clue, no clue at all what it's like to live on this precipice that everyone of the rest of us lives on. And yet all the cards are in their hands. W.T.F.
Listen to James McMurtry song "We Can't Make it Here" . Anyone can YouTube it. His lyrics are truth to power. It's great!!!
BRAVO, Lisa!! 💕👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
And the new Ozempic type drugs which have revolutionized weight loss and the treatment of type 2 diabetes………often cost $900 a month, even with insurance
My doctor did prescribe Ozempic, but since it requires pre-authorization, I have to wait another week to see if I'm covered. Not feeling optimistic.
Oh, I hope you can get it! I'm rooting for you!
I’m crossing my fingers for you. It can make a huge difference
You may want to check with NovoNordisk to see if they are still offering a plan for people who cannot afford the medication. I couldn’t find the specific link on the website.
Universal healthcare makes too much sense. Not Medicare, not lower prices. Free healthcare for all of us.
My best to you. Been there.