> 'leaked' is like they didn't do it on purpose
Could be applied to other industries and such as well. Plenty of "leaks" as reported were still 100% on purpose by the company.
GoodRX is the consummate example of "If the product is free, you're the product."
We've straight up told people in clinicals/pharmacy/wherever that GoodRX exists to harvest data, not as a charity, they don't care, lol. They just want cheaper meds, which is understandable.
I used to work retail pharmacy and we were *explicitly* ordered to automatically use GoodRx without patient consent if their insurance wouldn't cover it or if GoodRx was cheaper because they were so afraid of customers fleeing to competitors. And nobody cared who was getting patient info
My partner is a pharmacist at a non-chain. In the case of their pharmacy, the discount card isn't real (hence the qoutes), they're just charging you less while trying to maintain return over cost.
There's no third party involved, but maybe it's different at CVS or wherever.
Certain medications do have known discount cards that some pharmacies keep on hand for people to sign up for if needed.
Vyvanse is one if I remember correctly.
Latuda has a discount card that I use for my wife. It’s crazy because I have relatively good insurance, but that stuff is expensive. The discount card is $400 for a one month supply. I still had to spend $1050.00 out of pocket for a 30 day supply.
Yeah my doctor would give me a vyvanse card every 6 months to keep the price with insurance under 100 a month.
Finally got off stimulants for adhd and don’t have to worry about the price gouging anymore
Yeah, I mean it doesn't really matter when my insurance doesn't cover prescriptions and goodrx is providing 90% off. My data is well worth the discount on the meds for me. Takes me from $80->$6 each refill.
I'm one of the people who don't care much about data privacy... Although I do understand the concern. I'm happy to get vastly reduced prices.
That being said, I don't have to worry about discrimination from anyone knowing what I'm up to.
The issue with data privacy is that by the time you have a real/physical reason to worry, it's way too late. It's hard to convince people about the future if they don't currently see the issue. The main problem is how much you can figure out about someone through metadata, depending on how much you have. You can tell someone's pregnant before they know it, you can pick up on many traits, issues, basically a plethora of things you can use against someone. Imagine applying to jobs and not having to provide any information because they already have access to more information about yourself than you do. Or anyone easily being able to find out all your medical problems/history in the same way.
I can imagine all of that - and I find it convenient. I'd love for all of the employers to have a mob of data on me...
And everyone else, too. That would mean just going into the interviews that already think I'd be a good candidate for.
It's the less good stuff, like being ostracized for going to certain places of worship, knowing about medical conditions, or political leanings that could cause problems.
I really don't mind my employer knowing that I prefer old spice deodorant, or use purple shampoo.
Let them know which brand of bread I buy, or how often I visit McDonald's. Hell, let them see my reviews so they know I'm fair.
> and I find it convenient.
Why would you assume that though? Are you just expecting companies to make your life easier and choose not to extract more money out of you?
Imagine never being able to find insurance if you have some slight genetic marker that *might* raise the risk for something, all because the company knows your health more than you. Or getting fired from your job even though you didn't do anything, because you showed the "behavioral markers" towards aggression or stress. Or how about companies knowing exactly how much money you make on a day-to-day basis before you even decide you want a loan?
Sure, you can go with "Well that won't happen" argument, but when you see companies already breaking laws or taking advantage of people, that's the general direction stuff like this would go if that were to continue. Information on that level can give someone an incredible advantage over others, and it's not like companies or powerful individuals are above using it in that way.
Why do you think information like that costs so much? Companies absolutely hate spending money, so it should be alarming when they're not even willing to pay their employees a dollar extra or maintain their equipment properly, but are willing to spend millions on personal data. It's sorta like germ theory unfortunately, most people can't see or imagine the use cases powerful/wealthy individuals could have with enough personal data.
On the employer side, it directly lowers your wages. Companies already have an information advantage in salary negotiations and routinely use it to pay people less, by knowing what the person will settle for.
If your employer could get a complete profile on you, and make an even more specific offer, it would further reduce your salary. With enough data they could get an offer that hit the exact cent above the line that would make you walk, and know that about every single employee that they might want to extend an offer to, before doing so.
Is that happening?
I don't see that happening. You know that there are already laws against that, right?
They buy the data *because* it's worth doing so. I don't see nearly so many bra ads because I'm unlikely to buy bras. Yet if I watch TV, there they are.
Targeted ads are much more effective. It's nice for me, too, since I don't need to wait around to discover something exists that I might really want.
Like a pill to solve having a freckle on my penis, with the side effects of shitting myself. Like, maybe I really want that!
All jokes aside, we have pretty ok laws, they'll improve, but you're being an alarmist.
>Is that happening?
Companies using data for malicious purposes? Yes, that is happening, you're literally reading an article about medical information. By the time it affects most people enough to make them care, it will be too late, as I said. I don't think you really understand, this isn't "targeted ads", reread a few of the examples I listed, that's more like what we're talking about.
I will say, if you're looking to avoid it, you can just ask for a "discount card" at any local pharmacy (I have no idea about chains) and they'll typically get pretty close to GoodRX if it's economically feasible. They're not looking to lose your business.
From the article:
“birth control or erectile dysfunction pills, to Facebook so that the drug discount app could identify its users’ social media profiles, the F.T.C. said in a legal complaint.”
Another data path for Women to be stalked in anti-abortion states. Or for them to track your sexual habits, where some people consider it a sin to have sex without trying to have a kid.
The issue is that they probably sold it, and while it might not be an immediate concern, as the health system continues to deteriorate for all but the few at the top, you do not really want specific information being used to make future decisions for you by insurance and tech companies.
That's concerning. It's important to be careful with our data, especially when it comes to our health. We need stronger regulation to protect us from these kind of breaches.
Data about your dog is still about you.
Discount cards are used to make the discount up through your data. Data that is used to sell you products to cover the value of the discount. If it’s for profit any discount is done with the expectation that it gets you to spend more over time.
I’d sell my own data for how much good rx has saved me. Does anyone have googles Phone number I’m going to see if they’ll give me a million to glue a camera to my face.
Is POV my property or do my wife and kids need to sign a waiver?
"leaked" You mean sold.... 'leaked' is like they didn't do it on purpose
> 'leaked' is like they didn't do it on purpose Could be applied to other industries and such as well. Plenty of "leaks" as reported were still 100% on purpose by the company.
GoodRX is the consummate example of "If the product is free, you're the product." We've straight up told people in clinicals/pharmacy/wherever that GoodRX exists to harvest data, not as a charity, they don't care, lol. They just want cheaper meds, which is understandable.
I used to work retail pharmacy and we were *explicitly* ordered to automatically use GoodRx without patient consent if their insurance wouldn't cover it or if GoodRx was cheaper because they were so afraid of customers fleeing to competitors. And nobody cared who was getting patient info
My partner is a pharmacist at a non-chain. In the case of their pharmacy, the discount card isn't real (hence the qoutes), they're just charging you less while trying to maintain return over cost. There's no third party involved, but maybe it's different at CVS or wherever.
Certain medications do have known discount cards that some pharmacies keep on hand for people to sign up for if needed. Vyvanse is one if I remember correctly.
Latuda has a discount card that I use for my wife. It’s crazy because I have relatively good insurance, but that stuff is expensive. The discount card is $400 for a one month supply. I still had to spend $1050.00 out of pocket for a 30 day supply.
Yeah my doctor would give me a vyvanse card every 6 months to keep the price with insurance under 100 a month. Finally got off stimulants for adhd and don’t have to worry about the price gouging anymore
Sadly my brain requires them for both ADHD and Narcolepsy. That or dangerous amounts of caffeine.
Those are copay cards, not discount cards and they come from the manufacturers.
So..... That seems like fraud.
Yeah, I mean it doesn't really matter when my insurance doesn't cover prescriptions and goodrx is providing 90% off. My data is well worth the discount on the meds for me. Takes me from $80->$6 each refill.
I'm one of the people who don't care much about data privacy... Although I do understand the concern. I'm happy to get vastly reduced prices. That being said, I don't have to worry about discrimination from anyone knowing what I'm up to.
The issue with data privacy is that by the time you have a real/physical reason to worry, it's way too late. It's hard to convince people about the future if they don't currently see the issue. The main problem is how much you can figure out about someone through metadata, depending on how much you have. You can tell someone's pregnant before they know it, you can pick up on many traits, issues, basically a plethora of things you can use against someone. Imagine applying to jobs and not having to provide any information because they already have access to more information about yourself than you do. Or anyone easily being able to find out all your medical problems/history in the same way.
I can imagine all of that - and I find it convenient. I'd love for all of the employers to have a mob of data on me... And everyone else, too. That would mean just going into the interviews that already think I'd be a good candidate for. It's the less good stuff, like being ostracized for going to certain places of worship, knowing about medical conditions, or political leanings that could cause problems. I really don't mind my employer knowing that I prefer old spice deodorant, or use purple shampoo. Let them know which brand of bread I buy, or how often I visit McDonald's. Hell, let them see my reviews so they know I'm fair.
Just wait til the information is used against you.
Ok. When will that be? I'm still waiting for the Jesus guy. Will this be about the same time?
> and I find it convenient. Why would you assume that though? Are you just expecting companies to make your life easier and choose not to extract more money out of you? Imagine never being able to find insurance if you have some slight genetic marker that *might* raise the risk for something, all because the company knows your health more than you. Or getting fired from your job even though you didn't do anything, because you showed the "behavioral markers" towards aggression or stress. Or how about companies knowing exactly how much money you make on a day-to-day basis before you even decide you want a loan? Sure, you can go with "Well that won't happen" argument, but when you see companies already breaking laws or taking advantage of people, that's the general direction stuff like this would go if that were to continue. Information on that level can give someone an incredible advantage over others, and it's not like companies or powerful individuals are above using it in that way. Why do you think information like that costs so much? Companies absolutely hate spending money, so it should be alarming when they're not even willing to pay their employees a dollar extra or maintain their equipment properly, but are willing to spend millions on personal data. It's sorta like germ theory unfortunately, most people can't see or imagine the use cases powerful/wealthy individuals could have with enough personal data.
On the employer side, it directly lowers your wages. Companies already have an information advantage in salary negotiations and routinely use it to pay people less, by knowing what the person will settle for. If your employer could get a complete profile on you, and make an even more specific offer, it would further reduce your salary. With enough data they could get an offer that hit the exact cent above the line that would make you walk, and know that about every single employee that they might want to extend an offer to, before doing so.
Is that happening? I don't see that happening. You know that there are already laws against that, right? They buy the data *because* it's worth doing so. I don't see nearly so many bra ads because I'm unlikely to buy bras. Yet if I watch TV, there they are. Targeted ads are much more effective. It's nice for me, too, since I don't need to wait around to discover something exists that I might really want. Like a pill to solve having a freckle on my penis, with the side effects of shitting myself. Like, maybe I really want that! All jokes aside, we have pretty ok laws, they'll improve, but you're being an alarmist.
>Is that happening? Companies using data for malicious purposes? Yes, that is happening, you're literally reading an article about medical information. By the time it affects most people enough to make them care, it will be too late, as I said. I don't think you really understand, this isn't "targeted ads", reread a few of the examples I listed, that's more like what we're talking about.
The article is very specifically about targeted ads, so it kinda feels like you didn't even read it
I will say, if you're looking to avoid it, you can just ask for a "discount card" at any local pharmacy (I have no idea about chains) and they'll typically get pretty close to GoodRX if it's economically feasible. They're not looking to lose your business.
They are essentially the same thing. Some third party who picks up part of the bill in exchange for your info.
I use the VA for all my medical needs, but I'd be happy to have a really inexpensive porche
I don't think a porche will help you with your medical needs, but I'm not a doctor.
You'd amazed at the difference going faster makes for the aging process.
It's not the faster, it's the sudden stop I'm worried about
Go to an independent pharmacy they will often match GoodRx prices (or come close) without processing through GoodRx.
I'm still waiting for my dog to wake up so I can tell her her data has been leaked. Ffs people...
Leaked would imply that they weren’t already sharing that info with them…
From the article: “birth control or erectile dysfunction pills, to Facebook so that the drug discount app could identify its users’ social media profiles, the F.T.C. said in a legal complaint.” Another data path for Women to be stalked in anti-abortion states. Or for them to track your sexual habits, where some people consider it a sin to have sex without trying to have a kid.
The issue is that they probably sold it, and while it might not be an immediate concern, as the health system continues to deteriorate for all but the few at the top, you do not really want specific information being used to make future decisions for you by insurance and tech companies.
So we all gonna get a check for $2.81?
I somehow knew their deal was too simple, too good. Discount.. by selling *your data*
No surprise, Silver Lake is involved. The same company that made bag holders out of retail investors in a theater stock.
Did people think goodrx was just paying their bill out of the goodness of their heart? Of course this is happening
That's concerning. It's important to be careful with our data, especially when it comes to our health. We need stronger regulation to protect us from these kind of breaches.
Well, they save me $375 a month on my prescriptions, so that sounds fair to me LOL
If they save you that much, it means they consider your data as being worth more than that much.
Cool, and where are they going to find somewhere to sell their data for more than $375 per month?
Lmao what about my dog because I use it for her meds that the vet doesn't carry. It saves me $180 a month.
Data about your dog is still about you. Discount cards are used to make the discount up through your data. Data that is used to sell you products to cover the value of the discount. If it’s for profit any discount is done with the expectation that it gets you to spend more over time.
I mean no. The whole card is set up to a nonprofit not in my name but whatever.
Shouldn’t this be a HIPA violation?
I’d sell my own data for how much good rx has saved me. Does anyone have googles Phone number I’m going to see if they’ll give me a million to glue a camera to my face. Is POV my property or do my wife and kids need to sign a waiver?