Dr Chalmers Path to Pro - Why Insurance Companies Want You on Drugs

Many people don’t realize how closely tied insurance companies are to the prescription drug business. By working with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), they’re able to buy medications at large discounts and still profit creating a setup where there's little reason to cut back on prescriptions.

This system often leaves patients stuck in a cycle of taking more medications to manage side effects from others, while costs quietly rise for employers and the government. It sheds light on why staying healthy can feel like an uphill battle and why the system seems built to keep people dependent rather than well.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:03 - Why Insurance Companies Want You on Drugs
00:45 - The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
02:51 - How the Costs Are Passed to Employers
04:16 - The Profit Motive Behind Drug Prescriptions
06:02 - The Cycle of Symptom-Driven Medication
08:57 - Functional Medicine as an Alternative
10:11 - Insurance Plans and HSAs
12:49 - The Long-Term Payoff of Healthy Habits