Your perfect treatment plan has an outrageous problem — now what?
Key Takeaways
Today’s doctors are leveraging their platforms to spark conversations, battle misinformation, and drive positive change in health and wellness. Their influential posts are making waves—don’t miss them!
You prescribe the perfect treatment, confident it will help your patient. But when they show up three months later—symptoms unchanged—you realize they never filled the script. Why? Because the price tag was outrageous.
That’s exactly what happened to CarmenRose Fiallo. In a now-viral Instagram Reel, Fiallo shared that her migraine injection cost $791 out-of-pocket, with insurance. Retail price? $2,667. It was so expensive, her credit card flagged it as fraud.
She's not the only one with this experience. Similar patient stories on social media are plentiful.
When patients can’t afford their meds
Patients who can’t afford their meds often:
Delay or ration doses (cutting pills in half, skipping injections)
Try alternative, often less effective treatments
End up in the ER when symptoms spiral out of control
This isn’t just about financial strain—it’s a patient care disaster.
According to a 2024 study, a quarter of American adults skipped medical treatment in 2023 because of cost. That same report found that 10% of patients forgo prescription medication because of costs.[]
What physicians can do
Medication costs may be out of your hands, but patient care isn’t. A few simple steps can make the difference between a patient sticking to their treatment plan or quietly going without.
You can start by doing these four things:
Ask about affordability. A quick “Will cost be an issue for you?” can open up the conversation.
Check for lower-cost alternatives. Generic, biosimilar, or formulary-covered options may be available.
Utilize patient assistance programs. Many pharma companies offer discounts or free medications—if patients know where to look.
Consider non-medication strategies. Lifestyle changes, alternative therapies, or different dosing schedules might help bridge the gap.
Advocate for transparency. More price visibility in the EMR (or tools like GoodRx) can help you compare options before sending that script.
Bottom line
A prescription isn’t a treatment if the patient can’t afford to take it. If a migraine injection is more expensive than rent, how many patients are quietly going without?
It's time to normalize talking about cost—because when patients can’t afford their meds, they don’t take them. And that’s a problem we can’t afford to ignore.
Read Next: Here’s how you can help your patients save money