{"items": [{"author": "jimrandomh", "source_link": "https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CKy3ModunGKrdYcDe#LjCjPXHMRGeE6SGdF", "anchor": "lw-LjCjPXHMRGeE6SGdF", "service": "lw", "text": "In the case of insulin, dosage is too complicated and illegible for insurance to restrict people to the amount they're using without significant slack. This is good, because running out of insulin is much deadlier much faster than any other commonly-used medication.", "timestamp": 1579839806}, {"author": "waveman", "source_link": "https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CKy3ModunGKrdYcDe#H34zeWuLmNngx4Bng", "anchor": "lw-H34zeWuLmNngx4Bng", "service": "lw", "text": "This is a good example of where the system makes it difficult to do sensible rational things.
It's also an example of how the medical system assumes it will always be there, will not make mistakes, don't you worry etc.
It is not just for natural disasters that you need a backup supply. I found out the hard way that the capriciousness of the medical system can really hurt you. I showed up at the doctor had he told me that the drug I needed was not longer available from him, and I had to see a new specialist and "requalify". There was no way this could be done before I ran out. No-one had thought to warn me that the rules had changed. In fact they had not changed, formally. There was just this silent 'crackdown'. The word was put out that you betta not prescribe that any more, or maybe you would get audited, or raided, maybe lose your licence or medicare accreditation - there are a lot of ways we can hurt you. Maybe there will be a complaint against you that will burn a couple of years of your life to fight it.
There was a similar recent case of this with the prescription opiate crackdown. This was not what affected me, but the situation was similar. People showed up at the doctor's for a renewal and were told "nope". Your choice is cold turkey or the street. Doctors were prescribing opiates like candy and then they were not. Too bad if you were caught up in it.
As for solutions, most people suggest that putting a little bit away over time is the only solution. It is a waste of time trying to persuade the system to help you put together a just-in-case supply.", "timestamp": 1579840951}]}