Healthcare Hullabaloo: The Flying Nun

Ah yes – another favorite TV show from my youth. This series – featuring a 90 pound novice nun whos unique habit caused her to levitate in a stiff breeze – made Sally Fields a superstar (Gidget? That was before my time).

Sally went on to groundbreaking roles in Norma Rae and the Miracle worker – not to mention her role in those Smokey and the Bandit movies.

Sally has been one of America’s most beloved and respected actresses, winning two Oscars for Best Actress, plus countless other awards and nominations. Her busy career continues even today, with her role in the hit ‘Brothers and Sisters” TV Drama, where she plays the family matriarch.

Which leads me to wonder – why does this respected actress work as a shill for Boniva, a prescription medication for osteoporosis? Well, it turns out that Sally does suffer from this disease, and she probably does use Boniva herself. But still, why does she sully herself as a spokesperson for this pill?

My guess – the good folks at Roche Therapeutics Inc., manufacturers of Boniva, probably threw a boatload of money at her to do these commercials.

But still – Sally surely doesn’t come cheap – how can Roche afford her?

Well, after doing a little research, it turns out that Boniva doesn’t come cheap either.

According to Drugstore.com, Boniva costs a ludicrous $400 per pill. In case you think I miss-typed a decimal point, that’s Four Hundred Dollars a pill. One pill. Thank goodness you only take it once a month.

Grabbing some perspective, your Boniva habit will cost you about the same as a monthly lease on a mid-range Lexus. You’re paying around $74,000.00 an ounce for ibandronate sodium, the active ingredient in Boniva.

Of course, those of us with prescription drug coverage will never notice the price tag – until next year’s rate increase for your prescription plan comes through.

And for those of you without a prescription plan, forget about trading in your ten year old Hyundai just yet – at $400.00 a pop, even millionaire playboy and casino owner Carlos Ramirez would feel the sting of that pricey little pill.

Well, at least Sister Bertrille doesn’t have to worry so much about breaking a leg during a rough landing.

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