Insurance help. This is absolutely ridiculous.

For my rant, I just want to say that pharma companies completely screw us over. A drug that is meant to keep people alive should NOT cost this much.

But to start, I need help understanding this. I'm a registered nurse. The first hospital I worked at was covered by United Healthcare insurance. And it was actually quite nice. I could get 3 boxes of Novolog for 20 dollars. I thought that was good.

I recently had to switch jobs/hospitals, and am now covered by Cigna. I went to pick up my prescription, and ONE box. JUST ONE, was 132$. So imagine my frustration, going from 3 boxes paying 20 bucks, to ONE measly box paying 130. I eventually walked out of there way too heated and not understanding what was going on. They said I had to meet my deductible.

I came home and looked at my plan, and it does say that for an individual, I have a 200$ deductible for my plan. I NEVER had to pay into a deductible for my insulin! Ever! It was only co-pays. SO it's clear to me that I have a piece of shit insurance now. I get that.

But my question is this. A box of Novolog cash price is roughly like 600$ with a quick google search, right? The way that the pharmacist described it to me, is that once I meet the 200$ deductible, I will then only pay 40% of the box according to my coverage plan.

But my question is this. Is it 40% of the 130$ they wanted to charge for one box, or the roughly 600$ cash price? I'm so confused as to how this works.

How is it only 130$ for one box with my insurance? She said that the 130$ was the price with NO coverage until I meet my deductible. Can someone PLEASE explain this to me..I'm losing my mind. I hate this disease.