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Controversial take (though maybe not in this community):
If it's needed for survival, it should be free. No exceptions.
I would much prefer my taxes go toward making insulin to give away than bombs to give away.
I'd even, gasp, go so far as to say I'd happily give it away to citizens and illegal immigrants alike. Oh hell, everyone on the planet. No strings attached.
This is where my taxes should go. I can't stand the rhetoric that it's bad tax payers are footing the bill for those without insurance and those here illegally. That's what a society is supposed to do.
In fact, before this admin, we gave many medicines all over the world to developing nations.
Well America voted against food being considered essential for survival...
Devil's advocate: Medi-CAL (California's Medicaid program, already known for being very permissive) will likely already cover it for the eligible, and should the $11 be used in aggregate to cover distribution and manufacturing for all of California's citizens, it would be a reasonable rate to keep the program self-sustaining.
Allotting an exception for the payment for those who may have difficulty seems like a reasonable way to cover any gaps while making sure it never runs into the red.
As a Newsom hater, I have to admit this is a big win for everyone. While he's still very far from an actual solution to the country's root problems - you can vote for him (if that's an option), and then continue protesting and pushing for more reforms. I'm not quite as optimistic to believe this will happen, let alone succeed, but it's an idea.
Newsom can be shamed into doing the right thing. Trump/Vance/Miller will disappear the shamers. Completely different realities.
The most transphobic version of Newsom is a return to needing several doctors to write a letter saying you are trans. We're already seeing Trump denying the right to exist and forcing the next generation of trans kids into navigating black markets for T shots or forced to grow with the wrong hormones.
navigating black markets for T shots or forced to grow with the wrong hormones.
california has been looking for a low cost insulin for a few years, i think they were moving towards this for a while. the resistance is coming from the trioply that owns the other formulations of insulin.
Quick reminder that insulin was invented when Hitler was still a struggling art student.
Invented by a Canadian who sold the patent to a Canadian public university for a (Canadian) dollar, because he recognized that this should not be commercialized.
Insulin is available for pennies almost everywhere in the world because of this decision, but not in the USA
$11
As it should be
No it's not, all necessary healthcare should be free at the point of use. As should be basic housing and food.
To me it sounds insane that you have to pay for insulin, which you must have in order to survive. If anything, I would think that $11 per pen is still at or above the cost price for the manufacturer, insulin is dirt cheap to make once you have the production line.
All that said, this is of course a step in the right direction. I won't be surprised if there's a wave of media attacks on him a month from now, all suspiciously linked to some shady ad firm with ties to big pharma.
We’ll see how many red-staters cross state lines to buy their evil, demonic $11 insulin.
Watch them take advantage of this while acting like “California is the worst state”
God bless Governor Newsom.
Wouldn't be surprised if California is the first to secede when the fourth reich really begins to hit.
For comparison...
In Aus I'm paying ~$32 for 25 pens
We have it decent in Australia, but for the Americans reading on, the bar is so ridiculously low you can walk over it.
I hope one day Medicare can actually be universal, and not the private subsidy model we have currently.
I dunno about you, but finding bulk billing is a pain the arse now, and in certain areas it simply doesn't exist. Not to mention my premium mouth bones which aren't covered for some stupid reason.
I just wish we'd finally kill off private health. Private health is such a scam we only take out because we have a two tiered system and there's a tax discount.
I really don't like Australians talking about how good we have it, when it's kinda meh, and actively getting worse.
That all being said, yeah, the PBS is pretty good and I'm glad insulin is affordable.
Thank Christ we didn't get the Libs back (for American readers, that's the conservative party), we could do SO much better given how wealthy we are per person.
But, anyone who doesn't want to pay more in tax in order to get truly public healthcare doesn't know how to do maths. We could just pay what we pay in private health premiums already, in tax, and we'd probably get way better care per person (because profit is inherently inefficient).
Abolish private health.
Thanks for being accosted with my rant.
Can't wait for the border checks for "illegal" insulin
$11 per month, that's only about double what it costs in most of the world. Wait... Still $11 PER PEN
Wtf did it cost before!!??
As a former pharmacy worker in California, anywhere from $40 to $200, depending on the patient's insurance. There's a reason Eli Lily and other companies monitor the supply truck drivers and call the cops if they stop.
Imagine having to pay for healthcare
*European man (women have to pay, because, well, patriarchy and stuff)
I fucking loathe Newsome - but this is hard to complain about
I don't want to go down the rabbit hole, but I'm wondering is this ia CA paying the difference on what would be price gouging, or CA actually controlling the process, to erase any opportunity for that price gouging. That latter would likely be permanent, the former would last only as long as the administration isn't seeking budget cuts.
They're partnering with a non-profit 501(c)(3) generic manufacturer that was set up by groups of hospitals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civica_Rx
Seems as legit as you're going to find in the US.
Insulin is free where I am (not US). Never paid for insulin. I am using 6 pens per month.
I'm curious about the formula. My wife has jumped around a few different insulin companies and while they all had the same active ingredients, the inactive ingredients played a major part in her absorption.
I'm sure it won't be a fit for everyone's daily use, but at the very least it should stop people from rationing their doses.
Hey look! A liberal doing some actual fucking liberalism for once. What a nice change of pace.
We can't afford this, Argentina needs $40 billion so their leader can get a haircut that doesn't make him look like the manager of a rock band in the 70s.
US trying to do a single thing not-for-profit challenge (apparently possible).
