Head North for Prescriptions
Seniors find deep discounts in Canada
Just over a year ago, Rosemary and Harold Konke started going to Canada to buy her prescription drugs.
“When my husband retired, they provided good health insurance, but over the years, the monthly premium went sky high. So we switched to an HMO, and then they changed their coverage,” said Konke, 75, of Shelby Township, Mich.
“You think your retirement will be your golden years. It used to be that way, but not anymore. Shoot, this is just ridiculous,” she added.
The Konkes recently switched to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, but they have no prescription drug coverage.
As a military veteran, Harold Konke, 76, gets his prescriptions free through the Veterans Administration. But Rosemary, who takes eight pills each day, was spending more than $400 a month on medications.
Something had to give.
“We kept hearing about people going over to Canada (to buy prescriptions), so we decided to try it,” she said.
So every three months, the Konkes drive over the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit and visit Windsor Medical Pharmacy, which charges a one-time-only doctor’s fee of $20.
Canadian drug prices are much lower because the country’s system of national health care keeps a tight hold on pharmaceutical costs. In addition, U.S. drug companies add the cost of research and development, as well as the price of lobbying and expensive advertising campaigns to their products.
More and more seniors are crossing the border. The Alliance for Retired Americans, including UAW retirees, sponsors bus caravans with seniors from Indiana to purchase prescriptions in Windsor. Even with paying for the bus and spending a night in a Windsor motel there are substantial savings.
U.S. Senate candidate — and UAW Local 1981 member — Chellie Pingree has taken several bus trips to Canada with Maine seniors. On their last trip in August, 25 seniors saved more than $18,000.
“It’s not right that we have to go across the border when everyone else in the world just has to go across the street,” said Pingree, who led the charge in her home state to pass Maine Rx, a prescription drug law allowing the state to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for fair prescription drug prices.
More than 25 other states have used the program as a blueprint for reform.
“I understand the drug companies would like to stop us from doing this,” said Rosemary Konke. “But until somebody decides to change the laws in this country, we’re going to continue to do it.”
Konke still buys some of her medications in the United States. For example, for high blood pressure she takes Welchol, which costs $130 a month.
Go, Canada
One senior saves big in Windsor
Rosemary Konke takes eight prescription drugs each day. Fortunately, Konke can buy five of those medicines more cheaply in Canada, where the national health care system keeps prices down.
She used to spend about $400 a month on her prescriptions. Buying in Canada, she now spends a little more than that every three months.
Below is a comparison of Konke's prescription drug costs for a 3 month supply
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