This does offer as a chance reminder that we really do have a crisis in health insurance here in the US. The Medicare and Medicaid systems (our own version of socialized medicine) have pushed up healthcare costs in the form of unbelievable regulation and requirements for participation while at the same time forcing downward its reimbursements to healthcare providers. This has resulted in Private Insurance having to make up the difference. Private Insurance and Self-Pay customers are covering for the net loss from providing services to patients under govt. programs while being the only source for profits. As a result, private insurers are jacking up premiums while cutting benefits to their subscribers. This is what happens when govt. runs healthcare. People moan and groan about the day coming when Hillary and her bunch get their hands on healthcare and it becomes "government run". That day is today. Most sick people are elderly and on Medicare. Therefore, Medicare sets the agenda for healthcare and sets the rules for providing healthcare. Something has to be done to the system before the govt. destroys it.
Talk about a direct subsidy for something that IMO is a purely elective, personal decision type drug. The costs are borne by all and the Gov't support for demand inures to the Benefit of the Drug Cos.
I just heard in NY that one a few drugs use was increasing at 20+% a year. Taxpayer funded drugs. Were these life saving and necessary? You decide, they were Levitra, and similar drugs.