Epic Concerns over EpiPen Price Increase

This past summer parents and caretakers all around the country were despairing over the sudden 400% price increase of the EpiPen. This led many to look for loopholes in their insurance coverage, question the expiration dates, and even search for alternative sources of medication. The big question now is; is EpiPen worth it?The EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. are both pre-dosed Epinephrine auto-injectors. They come in sets of two as some adults and children may require more than one dose in the case of anaphylaxis. As its name would suggest, EpiPen is a pen shaped device but it is a little closer to the thickness of a king sized permanent marker. One of EpiPen's features is the Never-Show Needle which is quite brilliant because no one likes to see needles before or after they've been used.Putting all of these safe and convenient features into perspective you can see why EpiPen is able to charge a premium for their product. Then you can consider how they have proven time and again to be a first line of defense against life threatening allergic reactions. But is this still worth the sum of $655? It's difficult to answer that question because it is suggested by the company to have more than one pack. Families whose insurance features high deductibles will, of course, have to pay out-of-pocket for most or all of the total.EpiPen's parent company, Mylan issued a statement to CBS News saying the price "has changed over time to better reflect important product features and the value the product provides," adding "we've made a significant investment to support the device over the past years."The improvements have meant little since Mylan gained a monopolistic control in the market after their main competitor recalled their product. They have acknowledged the hefty price of their life-or-death medication and have instituted an EpiPen rewards program of sorts. Dubbed their "My EpiPen Savings Card," families can qualify for up to $300 off the price of a pack.Mylan has enjoyed their brand name fame but--like every great product--has a generic available for purchase at about half the price. Several parents have suggested asking for a sample from your doctor but this can only get you one pack at most. Another is to ask your doctor to prescribe you a non-Mylan generic known as Adrenaclick.According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 40% percent of children in the United States are afflicted by some sort of allergy and at varying degrees of severity. It is important to remember, however, that the severity experienced the second time may be worse than the first time. For this reason even a mild peanut allergy could warrant the necessity of Epinephrine at any time. The AAFA notes that "The most common triggers for anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction, are medicines, food and insect stings."If you do decide to spring for a purchase of one of these pens--or several packs--it's important to be wary of expiration dates as they do expire after one year. EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. both also come with practice pens so that you can act quickly in case of an emergency.If you have any questions please contact us to help ensure what's best for your child and family.