Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Cost of Epi Pens

Mylan has been in the news lately for the skyrocketing costs of epi pens.  An epi pen set now costs over $600.

One thing I haven't heard people talk about yet is the amount of epi pens a typical family needs. Folks may assume a child only needs just one set of epi pens.   This is not the case.  In my home, in order to ensure Owen's safety, we purchase 5 sets of epi pens each year.  Here is why:

  1. One epi pen stays with Owen all the time in his backpack.
  2. One epi pen is required to be locked up in the school nurses office
  3. One epi pen is always in his purse.
  4. One epi pen stays with this after school provider.
  5. One epi pen stays at home at a specific location so we always know where it is.
5 epi pens = $3000 a year.   The medicine expires every year, so it must be replaced.  And sadly, there are times we need to use the epi pen, and pay for that replacement as well. 

Someone may think the amount of epi pens I have stored away is overkill.  But even with all this coverage, there are times that Owen is not near his epi pen... I know, I must go see the Bad Mom movie out in theaters. 

I hope drug companies, insurance companies, and the American people can come up with a reasonable solution to the costs of medicine.  


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