Two TikTokers From The US And Brazil Compare Insulin Prices And The Difference Is Surprising
By this point, it is no secret just how drastically (insanely?) different medical bills can be when comparing the US and many other countries. This is a huge problem for those seeking certain medical services or medication, but not being able to afford them, which very quickly becomes a matter of life or death in some cases.
TikToker Sarah Vieira has recently shared a video where she dueted with another TikToker @iamchloe.com to compare the cost of insulin in the US and her own country, Brazil, which drew the attention of many internauts.
TikTokers recently dueted to show the drastic difference in the cost of insulin for a person
@sarahmva##dueto com @@iamchloe.com Hoje sou eu mas amanhã pode ser você. ##DefendaSUS ##fyp♬ Childish Gambino – This Is America / Post Malone – Congratulations – carneyval
So, a duet video has been drawing everyone’s attention lately. For those unaware, a duet is a TikTok feature where videos from individual people are put side by side, kind of like a collab. It showcases two separate videos that feature the same visual structure and plot, but differ in their message.
The video starts off by showing some insulin pens with the caption “these are my insulin pens” in Portuguese and English, and then transitioning into showing two young ladies who “need them to live.”
TikToker Sarah Vieira posted a video in duet format where she compares how much insulin costs in Brazil and the US
Image credits: Sarah Vieira
The video she dueted with was by @IAmChloe.com
Image credits: Sarah Vieira
Then they show an individual insulin pen, but this is where it starts to differ a bit: the one owned by Sarah has the caption “lasts 7 days” and the cost indicated is “R$0.00,” whereas the video on the right features Chloe’s insulin pen, also for 7 days, and it costs $168. Yes, you read that right.
And it doesn’t end there. Another frame features different insulin pens, ones that last for 10 days, and Sarah’s, again, is a zero-cost one, while Chloe’s costs $134. And then it transitions into both showing a few months’ worth of pens. Again, Sarah’s pens cost her absolutely zero. Chloe’s, on the other hand, amounted to over $15,000. Mind you, they need them to live.
Since Brazil has a universal healthcare system, it costs nothing for Sarah
Image credits: Sarah Vieira
This isn’t the case for Chloe as there is no insulin compensation system in the US
Image credits: Sarah Vieira
The video concludes with both girls showing their medication stashes and the captions “I am privileged enough to live in a country that has a Unified Health System (UHS)” versus “I am privileged enough to be able to afford my disease.”
The last frames also include Sarah captioning “Defend the UHS” and Chloe’s video saying “Not everyone is so lucky.” The former is a reference to plans to reverse 30 years of progress in the healthcare system with the recent austerity measures and new policies brought about by the Brazilian government.
And the costs rack up quickly as diabetes isn’t something that goes away after a few shots
Image credits: Sarah Vieira
Image credits: Sarah Vieira
And this is the case in a number of countries. If the governments of these countries don’t compensate insulin shots in full, they at least make it super affordable. In context, the average price per standard insulin unit in Australia is $6.94, $12 in Canada, $9.08 in France, $11 in Germany, and $14.40 in Japan. And then there’s the US that clocks in at $98.70 in the same statistics. That’s, on average, 10 times more than most other countries, which begs for a healthcare system reform in the US.
The video soon went viral on Twitter, garnering over 3.2 million views with over 79,000 likes and almost 28,000 retweets. The video was also shared by one other user, getting another 45,000 likes and 22,500 retweets.
Due to recent developments that may negatively affect the Brazilian health system, Sarah made this “what could be” video in defense of it
Image credits: Sarah Vieira
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comment section below!
It is so universally unfair, what the citizens of the USA, have to pay for medication that must be taken to be able to live! Big pharma price gouging in the states, is pure evil money making scams. Even if you have a good insurance, you still have tiers for copays! Some of those are unreal also! This needs to change! I hope it changes under Biden.
It won't change. US citizens don't want it to change. They think a universal health service is Communism and that it's totally normal to risk bankruptcy for a medical emergency.
Hold up there Dodo, there's a lot of us here that want it to change. Medicare for all, or UHS. I'll gladly have either over paying $650/m just for premiums.
Bob Belcher love
Correction, those In Power in the US don't want it to change. The general populace, all those people on minimum wage who would like to not die of some random easily preventable issue absolutely want it to do so. However despite the claim that the people of the US have power it's largely nonsense. Because the people in power are those who can afford lobbyists, which consists of the people making money from and benefitting in other ways from this system.
The thing is that it doesn't even require a universal healthcare system like the one in UK and Brazil. Germany has hwavily regulated, but private healthcare system and our drug prices aren't crazy either.
Actually, over 70% of American voters want Universal Health Care, but a lot of politicians are invested in Big Pharma and Corporate Hospitals. House Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has introduced the "Conflicted Trading Act" to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks -- such as pharmaceuticals and health care delivery companies.
Steve Cruz what
htmhyn haha
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
please dont speak for us all.
In fairness, everyone gouges in the States, the politicians appear to be universally corrupt, pollution is rife, the EPA is a joke (google Flint water or Formosa Lousiana for examples). It's a failing system that is there purely for the rich to get richer off the backs of the poor. And the UK wants to copy the American model, privatise the health service, remove environmental protection and shaft the poor.
Our environment was getting better (with the exception of flint and a few others). Until Cheetos came along and started rolling back all the EPA rules.
Katchen, I believe the statement speaks for itself, don't try to put labels on me to make yourself feel better. I don't live in the US so have no vested interest.
The UK doesn't - some scummy politicians might and they'll have an effing battle on their hands.
Capn_Ahab lol
Is “the politicians are universally corrupt” another way of saying “both sides are bad so vote Republican”? Because the corruption is not the same on both sides.
It won't. I begrudgingly support Biden because Tr**p has done and will do nothing but harm for immigrants, anyone who isn't white, women, and the LBGTQIAP+ community, but it is f*****g insane that Biden does not support UHS or medicare for all. It's part of the reason why I wish Bernie sanders was president and the democratic nominee.
Same, my original vote was for Burnie too but I'll take Biden over another 4 years of living hell.
I live in the US. I'm a type 1 diabetic and a kidney transplant patient. If I didn't have Medicare and Medicaid my monthly medication costs just for the 4 things I HABE to have no matter what would run me over $3,000. I take 2 insulins and 2 anti-rejection drugs plus a bunch of others to help with other things. I spent 17 years of my 25 years as a diabetic with little to no insurance or regular care, which is part of the reason my kidneys failed. I was really surprised to see nobody had brought up the Walmart "generic" insulins. Yes, they do sell 3 types of insulin for about $25 a vial but they're not true generics. They're either Humulin or Novolin brand witha tiny Reli-on label. The three they sell are R (regular) NPH (long acting) and 70/30 ( combo short and long). The thing about these insulins is that they are older insulins like 1st gen human insulins. They work for most people well but it's harder to plan and control blood sugar. I took them for years because that's what was
available in 1996. Nobody should have to ration ANY life sustaining medication EVER. If anybody needs help with insulin costs there are groups on FB and other places that can help.
This comment has been deleted.
Someone needs to find a way to make Americans understand the difference between socialism and communism.
Hear, hear! Socialism is not a four-letter word. Plenty of concepts in American government are socialist in nature. The fire department is a socialist institution. You have no choice but to pay into it, because the service exists to protect all residents! Can you imagine having to voluntarily subscribe to fire protection, and they just wouldn't show up if you hadn't paid?
It won't happen because the Republican supporters are repeating what the Republicans are telling them and view everything else as propaganda. Evidence and logic doesn't get anywhere. It's a very difficult time in the US right now.
Laura Pantazis yes
Carole Deem -
Also between democracy and whatever is going on in the US xD
THIS IS UNFAIR
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
[ STAY AT HOME & WORK AT HOME ] Start making money this time... Spend more time with your loved ones & relative by doing jobs that only require for you to get a computer and an online access and you can have that at your property. Start bringing up to $14789 to $18879 over 30 days. I've begun this job and make handsome income and now I can swap it with you, so that you can do it as well. You can check it out here...-⇛-⇛-⇛-⇛-⇛-𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝘀𝘄𝗮𝐠𝐋𝐢𝗳𝗲𝘀𝐭𝐲𝐥𝗲𝘀.𝐂𝐨𝐦
It is so universally unfair, what the citizens of the USA, have to pay for medication that must be taken to be able to live! Big pharma price gouging in the states, is pure evil money making scams. Even if you have a good insurance, you still have tiers for copays! Some of those are unreal also! This needs to change! I hope it changes under Biden.
It won't change. US citizens don't want it to change. They think a universal health service is Communism and that it's totally normal to risk bankruptcy for a medical emergency.
Hold up there Dodo, there's a lot of us here that want it to change. Medicare for all, or UHS. I'll gladly have either over paying $650/m just for premiums.
Bob Belcher love
Correction, those In Power in the US don't want it to change. The general populace, all those people on minimum wage who would like to not die of some random easily preventable issue absolutely want it to do so. However despite the claim that the people of the US have power it's largely nonsense. Because the people in power are those who can afford lobbyists, which consists of the people making money from and benefitting in other ways from this system.
The thing is that it doesn't even require a universal healthcare system like the one in UK and Brazil. Germany has hwavily regulated, but private healthcare system and our drug prices aren't crazy either.
Actually, over 70% of American voters want Universal Health Care, but a lot of politicians are invested in Big Pharma and Corporate Hospitals. House Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has introduced the "Conflicted Trading Act" to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks -- such as pharmaceuticals and health care delivery companies.
Steve Cruz what
htmhyn haha
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
please dont speak for us all.
In fairness, everyone gouges in the States, the politicians appear to be universally corrupt, pollution is rife, the EPA is a joke (google Flint water or Formosa Lousiana for examples). It's a failing system that is there purely for the rich to get richer off the backs of the poor. And the UK wants to copy the American model, privatise the health service, remove environmental protection and shaft the poor.
Our environment was getting better (with the exception of flint and a few others). Until Cheetos came along and started rolling back all the EPA rules.
Katchen, I believe the statement speaks for itself, don't try to put labels on me to make yourself feel better. I don't live in the US so have no vested interest.
The UK doesn't - some scummy politicians might and they'll have an effing battle on their hands.
Capn_Ahab lol
Is “the politicians are universally corrupt” another way of saying “both sides are bad so vote Republican”? Because the corruption is not the same on both sides.
It won't. I begrudgingly support Biden because Tr**p has done and will do nothing but harm for immigrants, anyone who isn't white, women, and the LBGTQIAP+ community, but it is f*****g insane that Biden does not support UHS or medicare for all. It's part of the reason why I wish Bernie sanders was president and the democratic nominee.
Same, my original vote was for Burnie too but I'll take Biden over another 4 years of living hell.
I live in the US. I'm a type 1 diabetic and a kidney transplant patient. If I didn't have Medicare and Medicaid my monthly medication costs just for the 4 things I HABE to have no matter what would run me over $3,000. I take 2 insulins and 2 anti-rejection drugs plus a bunch of others to help with other things. I spent 17 years of my 25 years as a diabetic with little to no insurance or regular care, which is part of the reason my kidneys failed. I was really surprised to see nobody had brought up the Walmart "generic" insulins. Yes, they do sell 3 types of insulin for about $25 a vial but they're not true generics. They're either Humulin or Novolin brand witha tiny Reli-on label. The three they sell are R (regular) NPH (long acting) and 70/30 ( combo short and long). The thing about these insulins is that they are older insulins like 1st gen human insulins. They work for most people well but it's harder to plan and control blood sugar. I took them for years because that's what was
available in 1996. Nobody should have to ration ANY life sustaining medication EVER. If anybody needs help with insulin costs there are groups on FB and other places that can help.
This comment has been deleted.
Someone needs to find a way to make Americans understand the difference between socialism and communism.
Hear, hear! Socialism is not a four-letter word. Plenty of concepts in American government are socialist in nature. The fire department is a socialist institution. You have no choice but to pay into it, because the service exists to protect all residents! Can you imagine having to voluntarily subscribe to fire protection, and they just wouldn't show up if you hadn't paid?
It won't happen because the Republican supporters are repeating what the Republicans are telling them and view everything else as propaganda. Evidence and logic doesn't get anywhere. It's a very difficult time in the US right now.
Laura Pantazis yes
Carole Deem -
Also between democracy and whatever is going on in the US xD
THIS IS UNFAIR
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
[ STAY AT HOME & WORK AT HOME ] Start making money this time... Spend more time with your loved ones & relative by doing jobs that only require for you to get a computer and an online access and you can have that at your property. Start bringing up to $14789 to $18879 over 30 days. I've begun this job and make handsome income and now I can swap it with you, so that you can do it as well. You can check it out here...-⇛-⇛-⇛-⇛-⇛-𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝘀𝘄𝗮𝐠𝐋𝐢𝗳𝗲𝘀𝐭𝐲𝐥𝗲𝘀.𝐂𝐨𝐦