Whitmire: COVID Meds Highlight Class Divide in America

COVID is still around, according to public health officials, but last weekend, a home test showed that I had it again.

I wasn’t too surprised. I’ve had this before.

When my wife suggested I take a test, I thought it might just be a cold. I had recently been sick with something else, and while she thought it was COVID, the test said otherwise.

But this time, the test was positive.

I’m not looking for sympathy—I'm feeling better already. What I’m trying to figure out is where my money went.

After learning I had COVID, I went to a local clinic to get my prescriptions. The first challenge was figuring out the cost. In the American healthcare system, you often don’t know the price until after you’ve received the service. This time, I found out before.

The receptionist told me my copay was $20. I felt a bit of relief since $20 was much less than I feared.

A nurse confirmed that I knew how to do a nasal swab and another nurse gave me a prescription for Paxlovid and some cough syrup. I thought it was similar to my previous experience with COVID: a simple test, a few days of medication, and some rest.

But then, at the pharmacy, I got a shock.

“They’re $423.08,” the pharmacist said.

I was stunned. The high cost of Paxlovid—$1,390—was far beyond what I expected.

I had to decide quickly: pay the hefty amount or use over-the-counter remedies. In America, there are different classes based on what people can afford—expensive cars, private schools, and even pricey coolers for camping. I suddenly felt like I was making a choice about which class I belonged to: those who afford the best or those who make do with less.

Fortunately, I could afford the cost this time. My wife wasn’t pleased, and when she got COVID a few days later, she decided against Paxlovid. Now, it’s my turn to help her.

Was it worth the price?

The American healthcare system is vague about what treatments do. From my experience, Paxlovid helped me recover quickly both times I had COVID. My wife is getting better but slower without it.

Pfizer says they offer some sort of rebate for those who pay out of pocket, but it’s unclear how it works.

COVID is still around, and while the healthcare system has changed since the pandemic, we’re still dealing with the high costs and uncertainties of treatment. For some, this game of paying for healthcare is costly and stressful.