Asthma \u201d\u201d the most common chronic disease that affects Americans of all ages, about 40 million people \u201d\u201d can usually be well controlled with drugs. But being able to afford prescription medications in the United States often requires top-notch insurance or plenty of disposable income, and time to hunt for deals and bargains.<\/p>\n
The arsenal of medicines in the Hayeses\u2019 kitchen helps explain why. Pulmicort, a steroid inhaler, generally retails for over $175 in the United States, while pharmacists in Britain buy the identical product for about $20 and dispense it free of charge to asthma patients. Albuterol, one of the oldest asthma medicines, typically costs $50 to $100 per inhaler in the United States, but it was less than $15 a decade ago, before it was repatented.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one that really blew my mind was the nasal spray,\u201d\u009d said Robin Levi, Hannah and Abby\u2019s mother, referring to her $80 co-payment for Rhinocort Aqua, a prescription drug that was selling for more than $250 a month in Oakland pharmacies last year but costs under $7 in Europe, where it is available over the counter.<\/p>\n