STOP: How Big Pharma Rigged The System

Описание: Why is insulin so expensive? In this investigative documentary, we expose the Big Pharma lie and the middleman maze of CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx that keeps healthcare costs high and patients in debt. 💊📉

TL;DR: The $500 billion "healthcare" business model relies on a hidden gap between a drug's "list price" and its "net price." While you pay a $642 copay at the counter, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and manufacturers like Eli Lilly and Merck trade billions in backroom rebates. From "patent thickets" that block cheap generics to the September 2024 FTC lawsuit exposing price manipulation, we follow the first dollar to show you exactly how the system is rigged—and the 2025 fixes that are finally starting to work.

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🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Investigation:

The pharmaceutical industry claims high prices fund innovation, but the data tells a different story. We break down the "Lighthouse Price" strategy, the "Evergreening" patent traps, and how vertical integration between insurers like Cigna and Aetna and PBMs creates a "company town" where the house always wins.

In this video, we cover:
✅ How PBMs use "Rebate Walls" to block cheaper biosimilars.
✅ The truth about the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 and taxpayer-funded research.
✅ Why the "Coupon Trap" and "Accumulator Programs" are siphoning your deductible.
✅ Real-world stories of independent pharmacies closing due to DIR fee clawbacks.
✅ How countries like Canada and the UK pay 50% less for the exact same molecules.

⏰ Timestamps:

0:00 - The $642 Insulin Receipt
1:15 - Setup: How a Lie Becomes “Healthcare”
5:45 - Chapter 1: The $1 Pill That Costs $300
12:30 - Chapter 2: The Middleman Maze (PBMs Exposed)
18:10 - Chapter 3: Launch High, Hike Higher
24:00 - Chapter 4: Public Risk, Private Reward (NIH Funding)
30:15 - Chapter 5: Selling the Cure You Didn't Know You Needed
36:40 - Chapter 6: Safety Nets with Holes (FDA REMS)
42:20 - Chapter 7: Courtrooms, Leaked Memos, and the FTC Suit
48:55 - Chapter 8: The Patent Thicket & Evergreening
55:10 - Chapter 9: Why the Generic Isn't Always Cheap
1:02:30 - Chapter 10: Why Other Countries Pay Less
1:08:45 - Chapter 11: Lobbying, Loopholes, and K Street
1:15:20 - Chapter 12: The Coupon Trap & Assistance Mirage
1:22:10 - Chapter 13: Workable Fixes (2025 Policy Wins)
1:28:40 - Chapter 14: Your Playbook: How Not to Get Fleeced
1:34:00 - Conclusion: The Next Investigation

🛠️ Your Healthcare Survival Playbook:

Don't get fleeced at the pharmacy counter. Use these steps to fight back:

Ask for the Cash Price: Often lower than your insured copay.

Check for Accumulators: Ensure your coupons actually count toward your deductible.

Authorized Generics: Request them by label name to bypass PBM steering.

Site-of-Care Review: Move infusions from hospitals to ambulatory centers to save thousands in coinsurance.

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Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or financial advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional regarding your medications and a financial advisor regarding your insurance benefits.