$424 For A Sinus Infection...WTF!?

I just don’t understand it, $424 for a sinus infection? WTF!

As most of you know, I’ve been feeling under the weather as of late, for weeks I’ve been fighting it, but last Sunday, I caved so to speak and got really sick. A horrible cough, a really bad case of laryngitis, clogged ears, a pounding headache and a low-grade fever. Ironically, my throat didn’t hurt and my blood sugars were fine. Actually, more then fine – they were textbook perfect. I’m still not sure why they didn’t go all haywire on me. Maybe it’s because I raised my basal rate before the onslaught of sickness and I barely had an appetite so my carb intake was minimal to say the least.

On Tuesday I finally went to the Dr. and was given the full battery of tests. A Strep culture, chest & sinus x-rays, and a white blood cell test.
And according to the films, yours truly was diagnosed with quite the nasty sinus infection. To quote the Physician:,

"It’s really bad Kel, one of the worst I’ve seen in quite some time. Your sinuses are A MESS"

"GREAT – thanks.' But then I said to myself:

"OK, it could be worse, it’s treatable, and according to the Doc, I should be feeling back to my old chipper self in a few days"

So off to the pharmacy I went, armed with 2 prescriptions, 1 for Allerx and 1 for Augmentin. Twenty minutes later, my order was ready and the Pharmacist rang me up.

"$424.38 she said cowering – AND YOU HAVE INSURANCE!"

YES, you read correctly $424.38. Out of pocket, to be reimbursed a lousy 40% (or $169.74) by my insurance as these drugs did not come in a generic form.

I did a double take and thought WTF?!

"UMmmm, I don’t think so. THERE'S NO WAY A SINUS INFECTION COSTS $424.
This is not a chronic condition, there has to be an alternative. I mean, it’s a SINUS INFECTION," said I all ticked-off and yet truly amazed at the same time.

The pharmacist looked at my and said, “Ah, yeah – that’s crazy.”

I wanted to know what the cost was without the insurance.

The Augmentin (which they were charging me a whopping $196.38) would go for a price of $225 sans insurance. And the Allerx (which they were charging me $228) would be $260 without insurance.

Needless to say, I told them to keep the drugs and I would have my Doc call in another RX in the morning.

After suffering through another night of major coughing, which no amount of Nyquil or humidifying could help, I called the Doc and who called in an RX for Clarithromcin ($16.70) and was told to buy some Claritin ($18.99 for a 20 count pack) and a Neti pot ($14.99 and by far the most helpful)

SO, $424.38 verses $51.68. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize what a rip-off the first price was.

I don’t care how much research goes into those drugs, $424.38 is highway robbery for a freaking sinus infection! And I have insurance! My diabetes drugs/supplies don’t cost that much!

Do the insurance companies want us to stay sick Or, do they just not care if we ever get well? 

I just don’t get it, in the season of giving and good will towards our fellow man, I feel as if I was about to be “taken” for a ride in order to get better and I want to Kick someones ass majorly! WTF?