1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Dear listener. Today we're bringing you another episode from the 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: series on medical tourism that our friends over at the 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Port of Entry podcast are sharing with us. Port of 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: Entry is a podcast from KPBS in San Diego and 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: PRX that tells cross border personal stories that connect us. 6 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: Stories of love, hope, struggle, and survival from frontisas and 7 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: frontisos and other people whose lives are shaped by the Wall. 8 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: Medical tourism is big business in Tijuana. The US government 9 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: estimates that close to one million people in California alone 10 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: across to Mexico every year for medical procedures or to 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: buy prescription drugs. Today a story about two women and 12 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 1: their journeys to find more affordable insulin in Tijuana. Here's 13 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: the host of Port of Entry, Alan Lillenthal, who's going 14 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: to take it from here. 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: Quick heads up. A few f bombs do make an 16 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: appearance this episode. 17 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 3: Hey you're at sixty nine. 18 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 4: There a piece of chocolate too, All right, let's good, 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 4: All right. 20 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,479 Speaker 2: So this is Aaron and her son Kyle, and Kyle 21 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: has Type one diabetes. 22 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 4: Hey you're high. 23 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,919 Speaker 3: I gotta give me a shot. Okay, thanks. 24 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: Kyle's bluecose level swings up. And down. When he's low 25 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 2: he needs to eat or drink sugar immediately, and when 26 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: he's high, he needs an injection of insulin. Actually, he 27 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 2: needs insulin every time he eats, so he's injecting himself 28 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 2: anywhere from three to seven times a day. It's a 29 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: constant balancing act, a delicate dance mom and son have 30 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: to do every single day and night just to keep 31 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 2: Kyle alive. 32 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 4: I mean people say things like, oh, but it's a 33 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 4: control disease, so you can control it. You know, the 34 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 4: technology is so great now you got this covered. Well, yeah, 35 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 4: you're controlling it. You're basically controlling not dying every meal. 36 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 2: As if managing diabetes wasn't stressful enough, it's even more 37 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: stressful because in the US, insulin is really expensive. 38 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 5: The average price of insulin tripled between twenty two and 39 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 5: twenty thirteen. 40 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 6: The insulin's necessary for someone to Type one diabetes to. 41 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 4: Survive, so the rising cost of one medication in particular 42 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 4: is causing anger and increasing desperation among people who need 43 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 4: it to survive. 44 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 2: But having to pay so much money just to survive, 45 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 2: Aaron says it doesn't feel right. She says she just 46 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: can't stomach forking over all that cash to big pharma. 47 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 4: It's so manning. I'm so furious about it. My kid 48 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 4: needs this to live. It's just wrong. It's just so wrong. 49 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 2: The high price of insulin feels wrong for aerin, but 50 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 2: for others. It means that sometimes people who need insulin 51 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 2: to live are forced to ration it, risking their lives 52 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 2: because they can't cover the cost. 53 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,399 Speaker 7: So I'd have to take less insulin and we'd try 54 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 7: and ration it a little bit because it was just 55 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 7: so expensive. 56 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: But here's where the US Mexico border swoops in to 57 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 2: the rescue, because just across the wall in Tijuana are 58 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 2: fartimasias stocked with more affordable drugs. 59 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 4: Can I just jump up and down? It was four 60 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 4: dollars a box for needles. That's insane. 61 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: Today in Port of Entry, we're continuing our series on 62 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: medical tourism at the Border with a story about two 63 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 2: women and their journeys to find more affordable insulin. It's 64 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 2: really a story about the fine line between life and death, 65 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 2: the balancing act people with diabetes have to navigate every 66 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 2: single day, and how crossing the line between the US 67 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 2: and Mexico can be a life raft day. 68 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 7: If you live here and you can cross the border. 69 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 7: Why not, it's saving your life basically. 70 00:04:42,480 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 8: No, yes, thatmosell No, let's just stupid, all right, whatever? 71 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 5: So did you alcohol your arm? Right or left? 72 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 2: So this is Aaron and her son, Kyle Agan. We 73 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 2: asked Aaron to record these audio diaries for us so 74 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 2: we could get a glimpse of what it's like to 75 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 2: live with diabetes every day. We're not going to use 76 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 2: their full names, by the way, because they want to 77 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: keep their families health information private. 78 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 4: Kyle and I are putting his CGM continuous glucose monitor 79 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 4: sensor on his arm, and it sort of uses a 80 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 4: contraption to stick a filament underneath his skin, so there's 81 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 4: like a loud pop and it does hurt. 82 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: So yeah, Aaron was getting ready to insert this tiny 83 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 2: monitor just underneath the skin on Cayle's arm. The monitor 84 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: connects to an app on both of their smartphones, and 85 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 2: that app shows them how Kyle's blood sugar levels go 86 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 2: up and down in real time. 87 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 5: Okay, ready, one, two, three, incredible, Okay. 88 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 2: So, so, Kyle was diagnosed with type one diabetes back 89 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: in twenty eighteen when he was fifteen, and Aaron says 90 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 2: it was a total shock. It hit him hard and fast, 91 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: nearly killing him before they even knew he had it. 92 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 4: Do you want me to tell you the story that 93 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 4: they call it the diversary story or something like that, 94 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 4: the diagnosis story. 95 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 3: I don't know. There's all these new terms I'm learning about. 96 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 4: So he was drinking a lot of water at night 97 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 4: and peeing at night, and he'd do that two or 98 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 4: three times in the middle of the night for a 99 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 4: couple days in a row. 100 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 3: And I thought, oh, my god, he has diabetes. 101 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 4: Because I thought that because my friend had a child 102 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 4: when she was well. She had a child who was 103 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 4: one when he was diagnosed. And I asked her, how 104 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 4: did you know to take him to the hospital, and 105 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 4: she said, well, his diapers were just wet and just 106 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 4: he was constantly drinking. He couldn't I couldn't get him 107 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 4: to stop drinking. So I knew that that was a symptom. 108 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 4: And I called her and I said, Hey, Kyle's been 109 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 4: doing this last few nights. 110 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 3: I think he has diabetes. What do I do? 111 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 4: I called his pediatrician. We got an appointment for tomorrow morning. 112 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 4: Do I wait or what? And she goes, he doesn't 113 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 4: have diat bebes, just go to CBS and get a 114 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 4: blood glucose monitor and poke his finger and then call 115 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 4: me and I'll tell you what the number means. So 116 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 4: I run to CBS and I get a blood glucose 117 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 4: meter and I go home and he's like, no, I'm 118 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 4: not poking my finger. What are you crazy? And I said, no, 119 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 4: I think you might. I mean this is going to 120 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 4: sound crazy, coy, but I think you might have diabetes. 121 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 4: What I don't have diabetes? Because he's walking around, he's fine, 122 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 4: he feels he says, he feels fine. 123 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 3: I say, look, let me poke my finger. 124 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 4: And I poke my finger and I put it in 125 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 4: the meter and it goes beep and it says I'm 126 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 4: at one hundred and ten. 127 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 3: And I'm like, look, see it works. This is how 128 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 3: you do it. 129 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 4: I don't know what that means one hundred and ten, 130 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 4: but it seems to be working. So let's do you next. 131 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 4: And he was like, no, I'm not doing that. And 132 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 4: I said, all right, you have a choice. We're either 133 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 4: going to urging care tonight or which is going to 134 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 4: be like four hours, or will you poke your finger 135 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 4: and it's going to be two minutes. 136 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 3: He says, fine, I'll poke my finger. So we poke 137 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 3: his finger and I put. 138 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 4: It in and the machine starts to beep and it 139 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 4: starts to blink, and it just says hi, hi, And 140 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 4: I'm like, Hi, what is this? He starts to cry 141 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 4: and I'm like, oh my god, what is this? He 142 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 4: has diabetes. So I call Linda, my friend, and I 143 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 4: say so the machine says hi, I don't know what 144 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 4: that means. And she said, you need to go to 145 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 4: the emergency room right now. He needs insulin. 146 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 2: Aaron and her son got in her car and she 147 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: drove over eighty miles an hour to an emergency room. 148 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: When she told the people at the front desk the issue, 149 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: they rushed Kyle right back instead of making him wait. 150 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: It turns out Kyle was like just moments away from 151 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: diabetic keto acidosis, a life threatening condition when your body 152 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 2: isn't producing enough insulin and your blood becomes acidic. And 153 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 2: from that moment on the family's life was forever changed. 154 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 2: At the hospital, Kyle got the first of what would 155 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 2: become a constant routine of insulin injections, and that's when 156 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 2: Aaron and her family first learned about the delicate balancing 157 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 2: act that is managing diabetes. 158 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 4: This insulin is it's life saving, but it can also 159 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 4: kill you because if you give too much. If, for example, 160 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 4: you eat, you think you're gonna eat fifty carbs, and 161 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 4: you give your five units of insulin and it turns 162 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 4: out that whatever you ate only had ten carbs in it, 163 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 4: then you've given yourself four units too much and you're 164 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 4: gonna sink and you can die. So you have to 165 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 4: sort of learn and adjust, and it's complicated. 166 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 2: So in an ongoing effort to not die. Throughout the day, 167 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: both Aaron and Kyle are looking at their phones at 168 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,839 Speaker 2: that app connected to that tiny monitor inserted in his arm, 169 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 2: and they watch the levels go high and low. 170 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 3: It's like a mountain range. 171 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 2: If Kyle's high, he has a few hours before he 172 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: has to get insulin in his body to prevent problems. 173 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 2: But if he's low, it's a real emergency. He literally 174 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 2: only has a few minutes to get sugar in his 175 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: body before he could die. Aaron said that watching her 176 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: son's ups and downs twenty four hours a day, it 177 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 2: takes an emotional toll. 178 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 4: It is a lot of worry, anxiety, but not fear. 179 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 2: Not fear because Aaron can get the insulin Kyle needs. 180 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 2: She makes pretty good money, so they would never ration it. 181 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 2: She doesn't have to fear for his life the way 182 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 2: other diabetics might. But like everyone else with type one diabetes, 183 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 2: Kyle needs a lot of insulin, about three to four 184 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 2: pens of short acting insulin and three pens of long 185 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 2: acting insulin every month. Insurance helps a little, but it 186 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 2: doesn't cover all the cost of the drug, plus the 187 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 2: needles and all the other supplies he needs. Aarin could 188 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: afford the over two thousand dollars a month she was 189 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:50,079 Speaker 2: having to pay out of pocket, but she was just done. 190 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 2: She says it fell gross and just too unjust to 191 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:59,079 Speaker 2: let powerful pharmaceutical companies profit offers Son's disease. 192 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 4: Fe very privileged to be in that position. But nobody should, 193 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 4: I mean insulin. It should be all right. Nobody should 194 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 4: be meeting to take out a loan to have a 195 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 4: drug that keeps them alive. 196 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 2: Erin turned her anger and frustration into action. She started 197 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 2: doing online research, and eventually the answer to her insulin 198 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: problem came in the form of a video about getting 199 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 2: insulin in Tijuana. So me and my producers, Kinsey Morland 200 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 2: and Emily Jankowski. We met up with Aerin back in 201 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 2: January twenty twenty, a few months before the pandemic hit US. 202 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 5: Good, how are you? 203 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 2: The four of us started out at a cafe in 204 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 2: an outlet mall in the US at the Last America 205 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: shopping center. That butt's right up against the border fence 206 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 2: with Mexico. 207 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 4: The pharmay I found. I watched a Vice episode and 208 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 4: they went there, So yeah. 209 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 2: That Vice video, it made it seem the super simple. 210 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 4: They recorded the whole way across. The guy spoke English 211 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 4: behind a counter. I don't speak Spanish, so I figured, 212 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 4: hopefully that guy's still there and he'll speak English to 213 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 4: me and I can get what I need. 214 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 2: Aaron lives pretty close to the US Mexico border, about 215 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: thirty five to forty five minutes away, so she decided 216 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 2: to go for it, and she invited our little podcast 217 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 2: crew along for the ride. 218 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 4: I did call ahead. My daughter speaks fluent Spanish. She 219 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 4: called ahead and found out that they do have insulin there. 220 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 4: They have the kind I made, and they said it's 221 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 4: seventeen dollars a pen if I buy more than four 222 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 4: pens at a time, and four pens would get us 223 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 4: through two months, so I'm going to try and buy three. 224 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 4: I'm going to try and buy six pens for three months, 225 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 4: and I know they have it, and we'll see when 226 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 4: we get there whether or not they speak English or Spanish. 227 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 3: But you guys are with me, so yeah, I. 228 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 2: Think we'll be fine. Are you ready to cross the border. 229 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 4: I'm ready. Let's do it. 230 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 2: From the cafe, we headed across the street to the 231 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 2: Sunny Seeded Ale port of entry. 232 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 8: Yeah. 233 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 4: We just went through the border. It was exciting. Had 234 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 4: to fill out some paperwork and put our bags on 235 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 4: a conveyor belt. I guess they X rayed them to 236 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 4: make sure we wouldn't bring drugs into Mexico or something. 237 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 4: Not sure what they were. Maybe guns. They don't want 238 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 4: guns here. And everybody was super nice, and that was 239 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 4: a breeze and there's no reason to be afraid. 240 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 2: Really easier than going into America. 241 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 4: Oh my gosh, it took thirty seconds. May okay, it 242 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 4: took two minutes. It took two minutes. Okay. So we're 243 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 4: going to a place called pay Pharma. It's right near that. 244 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 8: Yea. 245 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 2: Once we got through the pedestrian crossing at the Siny 246 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 2: seeded port of entry. We all started looking at our 247 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 2: phones using our map apps to try to figure out 248 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: how to get to that specific pharmacy that Aaron heard 249 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,359 Speaker 2: about in the Vice video. 250 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 4: Do I need to change my money? Do you think 251 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 4: I need to change my money out of. 252 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 8: Just pay you want to take? 253 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 2: You take us? Yes? 254 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 4: And it's eighteen eighteen to one. Looks like okay, okay, 255 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 4: Oh he wants us to come in there, good Mexican food. 256 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 4: I we have some storefront owners wanting us to come 257 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 4: in and eat Mexican food in their place. 258 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 2: So yeah, there are plenty of restaurants right here after 259 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 2: you walk through the border and into Takuana, but mostly 260 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 2: you're surrounded by tons of dentist offices and massias. Most 261 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 2: of these pharmacies are painted in bright colors yellows, blues, reds, 262 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 2: so they really stand out. Some also play super loud 263 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 2: music from huge speakers set right in front of their entrances. 264 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 2: They're hoping to attract the folks like us who just 265 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 2: walked through the border and don't know exactly where they're 266 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 2: going yet, trying to convince them to choose their pharmacy 267 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 2: instead of the one next door. Some farmacias even hire 268 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 2: these funny mascots to twirl signs and dance in front 269 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 2: of their stores. The ones I've seen were dressed as 270 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 2: cartoonish pharmacists with big mustaches, or like hilarious giant pill 271 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 2: bottle characters. So yeah, Fartimacia. Competition at the border is real. 272 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 4: This area is filled with pharmacies. I bet a lot 273 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 4: of them have what you need. 274 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 2: But let's go to pay pharmacy. 275 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 4: It's so close, still right in here. 276 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 2: Aaron couldn't resist all the temptation, so she decided to 277 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 2: check out a few other pharmacies that we came across 278 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: this pharmacy row. 279 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 4: Okay, okay, should we I wonder if we should go 280 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 4: in and see how much it costs. Let's let's go 281 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 4: in one. Let's just go in one besides pay pharma 282 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 4: and just see what it would cost. 283 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 2: It will beat any price. 284 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 4: My Aggressiala's levitra. 285 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 7: You want to check your sure? 286 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 4: Sure? Hi, lanis clanis insulin insulina? How much is it 287 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 4: for a pen? Let me, I'll pull out what I have. 288 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 4: Let's see if I can find my sample. 289 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: Okay, let me let me get it. 290 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 4: Okay, now, if he gets it, he shouldn't get it 291 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 4: because it's refrigerated. So if he's just gonna get it 292 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 4: and pull it out to show me, well, see he's 293 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 4: getting it instead of calling I guess. Yeah, I would 294 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 4: never buy it, right, oh hit just yeah, I'll be 295 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 4: able to tell if it's cold. How much is name? 296 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 7: Okay? 297 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 4: It's twenty four to sixty four one pen okay, or. 298 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 2: It's five or three. 299 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 4: For threepence, so thirty three dollars for three and twenty 300 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 4: four for one. That doesn't make sense. Okay, you can 301 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 4: put it back in the refrigerator. Thank you, have a 302 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 4: good day. 303 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 2: Refrigerated. 304 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 4: Yes, so it's more expensive. So it was more expensive 305 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 4: to buy a three pack, which makes no sense. And 306 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 4: in the United States they're sold in five packs, so 307 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 4: it is a little bit different. But it did look 308 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 4: the same. It had the same manufactured name on it, 309 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 4: and it was the same kind of flex pen that 310 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 4: people use for multiple daily injections. I'm not at all 311 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 4: worried that it's counterfeit. It was refrigerated. 312 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 5: Maybe that's just the close to the border tax. 313 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, if we go further deeper, maybe it just 314 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 4: went up in price. 315 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 2: So the price the Pharmacists quoted was lower than the 316 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 2: price in the US. But Aaron, she admitted to us 317 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 2: that she's very frugal, actually, that she comes from a 318 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 2: long line of very frugal women in her family. She 319 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 2: says she wanted to score the best possible price. So 320 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 2: we kept walking toward pay Pharma, the place Aaron saw 321 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 2: and vice, but we still had some trouble finding it, 322 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 2: in part because medical tourism has just totally changed the 323 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 2: urban landscape surrounding the port of entry. They're doing a 324 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 2: lot of construction here, like if you see these like 325 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 2: satellite buildings, like it looked like there was structures there before, 326 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 2: but it seems like they tuck everything down and are rebuilding. 327 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 2: I mean, they're investing billions of dollars into the medical industry. 328 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 4: That's so weird. Our pharmacy might be gone. 329 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,959 Speaker 2: We wandered in what we thought was probably the right direction, 330 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 2: walking a bit deeper south into. 331 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 4: Tijuana on the hunt for insulin. I feel a little 332 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 4: bit like this is a well or a drug deal. 333 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 4: It is. It just feels funny. Insulina. That's the right word, 334 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:33,479 Speaker 4: isn't it. Alan? Yeah, my daughter taught me that. All right, 335 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 4: let's keep going. 336 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 2: Okay, we'll come back to our insulin drug deal, akain, 337 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 2: I promise, But first we're going to talk to Liz. 338 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 2: She's a fifty three year old grandma with type two 339 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 2: diabetes who's had to ration her insulin in the past, 340 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 2: first because it was so expensive in the US, and 341 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,679 Speaker 2: then because of the virus and its impact on the 342 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 2: border the cons world. Damos n mino, howda the weld 343 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 2: Time podcast. 344 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 7: My name is Elizabeth Cecido. Anything you need to know, 345 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 7: just ask So. 346 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 2: Liz Alcido lives about ten minutes north of the US 347 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 2: Mexico border in Chula Vista. My producer Kinsey and I 348 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 2: met up with her at a cafe there a few 349 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 2: weeks ago. 350 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 4: This is such a oh yes, it's it's it's getting there. 351 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 7: Yeah, all these nice new restaurants popping up everywhere. 352 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,719 Speaker 2: Liz has type two diabetes and at first she just 353 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 2: needed a pill to manage it, but the disease progressed 354 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 2: and eventually she had to start relying on insulin, just 355 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 2: like Kyle, and she says it's been tough. She's had 356 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 2: a hard time keeping up with all the costs. 357 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 7: You know, we were living paycheck to paycheck, and it 358 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 7: was a little There were months, not every month, but 359 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,360 Speaker 7: there were months where things were a little bit difficult 360 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 7: to get the insulin. We had to make a choice 361 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 7: pay this bill or by the insulin. So I've struggled 362 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 7: in the last few years because of the high cost 363 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 7: of health insurance that sometimes I'm without insurance and so 364 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 7: I don't have my medications. 365 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 2: Not having medications though, that's super dangerous when it comes 366 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 2: to diabetes. People have died from rationing insulin or they 367 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: suffer serious long term complications like kidney failure or blindness. 368 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:31,440 Speaker 2: Rationing to save money is really just not a safe option. 369 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 2: Liz could have died. Luckily, though. Liz's parents are from Tijuana, 370 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 2: and Liz actually lived in Tijuana herself for a few 371 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:46,360 Speaker 2: years in her late teens and early twenties, so eventually 372 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 2: she realized what was right in front of her the 373 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 2: whole time, Mexico. 374 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 7: I just started crossing the border and getting it there. 375 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 7: We were living paycheck to paycheck, and it was a 376 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 7: little bit harder, and so oh, we were crossing anyway, 377 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 7: So I figured why not, why not try this and 378 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 7: why not see how much it costs, you know, So 379 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 7: just walking into the pharmacy asked, and I was like, bet, 380 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 7: give me four of them, you know, yeah, you know. 381 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 7: And so I was able to have that extra and 382 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 7: still occasionally get my insulin here, and then you know, 383 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 7: I didn't have to ration. I didn't have to worry 384 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 7: about it. I had an extra little stock there, you know, 385 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 7: in case anything happened. I had an extra vial there 386 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 7: that I bought in Tijuana. And if at that moment 387 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 7: I couldn't afford it or you know, it was a 388 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 7: choice between this or that, I had that extra vile there. 389 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:40,640 Speaker 4: So it was very important to me to go to go. 390 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 7: Even when I did have enough money to pay the copse. 391 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 7: At the same time, I was still paying less in 392 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 7: Mexico for the insulin than the price that I was 393 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 7: getting for it here paying my cope. 394 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:02,640 Speaker 2: So problem solved, right, Thanks Iguana, Liz could finally afford 395 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 2: the insulin she needed. But then the pandemic hit. 396 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 7: The United say it's in Mexico have agreed to restrict 397 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 7: non essential travel across our shared border, both of our 398 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 7: countries nearly. 399 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 2: Worn suddenly, crossing the border became just too risky for Liz. 400 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 2: Starting in March of twenty twenty people were told not 401 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 2: to cross the US Mexico border unless they absolutely had to, 402 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 2: and even though Liz had a really good argument for 403 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 2: why she needed to keep on crossing, she says she 404 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,360 Speaker 2: didn't want to expose herself to the virus by crossing 405 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 2: the border and being around crowds, especially because people with 406 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 2: diabetes like her are considered a high risk when it 407 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:51,120 Speaker 2: comes to the virus. So Liz had to start rationing 408 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 2: her insulin. Again. 409 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,919 Speaker 7: I did ration a little bit, so you know, I 410 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:05,360 Speaker 7: would just mostly take the afternoon doses and not take 411 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 7: anything in the morning. Just try not to eat anything 412 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 7: that had any kind of sweetness in it or any 413 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 7: carbs that could turn into sugar, so you know, a 414 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,360 Speaker 7: lot of cinnamon tea and natural things. 415 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 6: That lower your glucose level. 416 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 7: And that's how I got through it. 417 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 2: We'll come back to Liz a little later, Yeah, but 418 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 2: first I want to drop back in on our insulin 419 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 2: trip with Aaron. 420 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 4: I was in the video and that's how I knew 421 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 4: where we were going. 422 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 2: Eventually we found the pharmacy Aaron was looking for. It 423 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 2: was actually sort of hidden in the shadow of one 424 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 2: of the huge new medical centers being built at the border, 425 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 2: and you can hear it in the tape. The unrelenting 426 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 2: drone of construction was everywhere around us. 427 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 4: Yep o, kind of this looks right. Revisiting a steps of. 428 00:27:54,440 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 2: Ice a morning, Aaron recognized the pharmacist. 429 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 4: LANs, yes, LANs pens. You know many union I know 430 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 4: if I buy in bulk, it's a cheaper price. 431 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,959 Speaker 2: The pharmacist is a Mexican American man who told us 432 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 2: he's lived on both sides of the border, hence his 433 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:18,400 Speaker 2: perfect English. 434 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 9: They have a single or the five pack, you know, 435 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 9: just that'd be fine. 436 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 4: Let's two and a half months. 437 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 2: His name is Rodrigo Romo, and he says, Aaron's not 438 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,160 Speaker 2: the only one who saw the vice video and then 439 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 2: searched him out in Tequanda. 440 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 10: We actually had if you actually got a few phone 441 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 10: calls and stuff after. 442 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 5: That, just a handful of really just a handle. 443 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 10: Well, we had quite a few people saying like, oh, 444 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 10: we saw you. 445 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 9: And then I had phone calls. 446 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 10: From labs and stuff, and you're like, oh, we do 447 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 10: research with diabetics and stuff and San Diego stuff like 448 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 10: oh would you mind if we send patients and stuff 449 00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 10: and be further down They're like send whoever you want. 450 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 4: Yeah. 451 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So Rodrigo had to call over to another pay 452 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 2: Pharma location to get more insulin. While we waited, he 453 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 2: told us more about the medical tourism industry in Tijuana. 454 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 2: He said, the reason insulin is so much cheaper in 455 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 2: Mexico isn't because it's a different like cheaper or crappier product. 456 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 10: Yeah, if it's the same pinet, it's patented, it comes 457 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 10: from the same labs, all all of that. It's just 458 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 10: you know, the different The government negotiates prices here, and 459 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 10: you have. 460 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 4: A better negotiating government. 461 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 10: Because the government doesn't negotiate them over there. Over there 462 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 10: in the US, it's just it's privatized. They let the 463 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,719 Speaker 10: pharmaceuticals set their prices and go straight to the to 464 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 10: the companies and then they set their prices on what 465 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 10: they want to sell it do and you're kind of 466 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 10: just stuck there and here it's negotiated down by the 467 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 10: government and after that, that's the price you can't mess with. Like, 468 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 10: once we get it, we can't mess with it. We 469 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 10: can give it discount maybe, but we can't bump it up. 470 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. Basically, Rodrigo said, Mexico has fewer rules and regulations 471 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 2: when it comes to getting drugs on the market, but 472 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 2: more regulation when it comes to how those drugs are priced. 473 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 10: And yeah, the support of the government helps a lot. 474 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 10: The government really sticks his hand and trying to keep 475 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 10: prices down for the common people. It's not just profits, 476 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 10: it's they really look out for the citizens there. And 477 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 10: obviously you know that spills over and benefits whoever lives 478 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 10: across the border. 479 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 2: So yeah, this is why so many Americans come here 480 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: to take advantage of these cheaper prices that are set 481 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 2: by the Mexican government. Rodrigo said, pretty much all of 482 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 2: the new construction we were hearing that day was to 483 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 2: accommodate the flood of medical tourists. 484 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 10: All of this is just gonna be medical tourism, and 485 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 10: it's you know, you walk across the border, do what 486 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 10: you need to and you head back. If you drive, 487 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 10: they have the medical lane where you get the passes, 488 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 10: so you don't have to sit in line for three hours. 489 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 10: You just kind of come, do your thing and head 490 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,959 Speaker 10: on out. So we've seen the boom. Everything that's happening 491 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 10: here is very recent in the past few years. It's 492 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 10: just you know, all of a sudden it built up enough, 493 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 10: there was enough demand, there was enough profit where they 494 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 10: could finally invest and do something to make it world class. 495 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 10: So yeah, we're kind of going through it all right now. 496 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 2: Rodrigo told us that insulin is by far the most 497 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 2: in demand medication. His US clients are buying. 498 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 6: A lot of stuff. 499 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 10: I'm surprised, you know, you would think most of the 500 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 10: people are just like coming from San die One stuff. 501 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 10: I've had people tell me like, yeah, no, we came 502 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 10: from Florida. I was like Florida, Like yeah, it's cheaper 503 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 10: for us to do the flight, the hotel and all 504 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 10: that stuff, come get our treatment, fly back than it 505 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,000 Speaker 10: is to just go see our doctor there in our hometown. 506 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 10: I was just like that one really blew my and 507 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 10: I'm like, that's not a cheap flight and then hotels 508 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 10: in San Diegaro it's cheap either. 509 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 2: Especially so just how cheap was the insulin Aarin was 510 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 2: about to buy from Rodrigo? At first? He quoted her 511 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 2: twelve dollars a vial, which was ridiculously affordable. 512 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 4: That's exciting, it's only twelve dollars. It's unbelievable. Twelve fucking dollars. Yeah, 513 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 4: twelve dollars compared to one hundred and ten in the US. 514 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 4: It's ten percent. Where's the ninety percent going? Who's taking 515 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 4: the ninety percent? 516 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:35,840 Speaker 2: But then when Rodrigo went to ring up the insulin, 517 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 2: the price shot up big time to twenty dollars a vial, 518 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 2: which is almost double. Aaron was not stoked about the 519 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 2: sudden price change. 520 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 4: I'm feeling a little duoped. 521 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 2: Here, Rodriduo explained what happened. He sets small price fluctuations 522 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 2: throughout the year are normal. 523 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 10: Usually the pattern is twice a year you get it. 524 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 10: You see a little bit of a bump. Sometimes it drops, 525 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 10: which is weird, but that's the way it goes. 526 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 2: Rodrigo said. Those bumps typically happened right at the beginning 527 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 2: and then again in the middle of the year. So 528 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:15,360 Speaker 2: since we crossed in January of twenty twenty, Aaron got 529 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 2: the higher price, but the price tag was still way 530 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:22,440 Speaker 2: lower than it is in the US, so Aaron went 531 00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 2: ahead and bought it. 532 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 4: So I'm getting tenvials for twenty bucks each. Ten vials 533 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:37,719 Speaker 4: for twenty bucks each. It's still quite a deal, and 534 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 4: I'm gonna be pissy about I almost got them for twelve. 535 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 2: Before we left Aaron asked Rodrigo about crossing the insulin 536 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 2: back to the US. He told her she didn't have 537 00:33:57,240 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 2: to worry too much. 538 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,720 Speaker 10: Usually the recommenday is if they ask you, say you 539 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 10: have something. Typically, if you didn't need a prescription for it, 540 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:08,880 Speaker 10: you technically don't have to say anything. Antibiotics and you 541 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:10,400 Speaker 10: control something says you have to be like, yes, I 542 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:13,040 Speaker 10: have it, here's my prescription. You're good to go this. 543 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:15,960 Speaker 10: You really don't need anything, but just to play it, say, 544 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 10: because sometimes you'll get a guy You'll be like, hey, 545 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:19,160 Speaker 10: I have this, Yeah, I don't care and just go through. 546 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 10: Sometimes you get someone even with all the paperwork, well 547 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 10: why you have it? Why are you coming here? How 548 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:24,080 Speaker 10: many days is therefore? Are you doing it for more 549 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:24,880 Speaker 10: than thirty days? 550 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 9: You know? 551 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 10: Are you trying to sell it? 552 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 6: What's this? 553 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 10: It's just a luck of the draw with the agent. 554 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 10: You're gonna get best bet. Just play it and say 555 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 10: if you're like, yet, I have it, insulin stuff like that. 556 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:36,799 Speaker 10: You don't need your prescription so they can't really give 557 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 10: your hussle for it. And like I said, the control 558 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 10: stuff all thatt top. As long as you're got your paperwork, 559 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 10: you're gonna be fine. 560 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 2: As we walk back toward the border crossing, Aaron told 561 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 2: us she felt extremely lucky that she was able to 562 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:57,799 Speaker 2: save so much money, but also conflicted. 563 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:00,959 Speaker 4: I am so happy for my and I am so 564 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:03,400 Speaker 4: sad for all the people that don't have this privilege, 565 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:07,359 Speaker 4: because it's just not right. It's wrong that I'm able 566 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 4: to cross the border and get this like this. You know, 567 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:15,040 Speaker 4: it's my kid needs this to live, and other people 568 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 4: need this to live who don't have resources and who 569 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 4: can't drive an hour to cross the border. They live 570 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 4: in Kansas or wherever, Utah, and they don't have access 571 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:32,960 Speaker 4: to this mecca of reasonably priced medicine. And so it's 572 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,319 Speaker 4: interesting that he said the government negotiates the prices. So 573 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:39,839 Speaker 4: where's our government in this? Why are they not helping us? 574 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:44,320 Speaker 4: It's so frustrating. So I feel like I have this privilege, 575 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 4: but at the same time, it's wrong. What's happening on 576 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:49,920 Speaker 4: the US side. 577 00:35:50,600 --> 00:36:02,279 Speaker 6: They're just screwing us. 578 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 2: As we got closer to the port of entry, the 579 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 2: delicious smell of asada filled the air around us. 580 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 4: Some taco I'd love some tacos. 581 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:29,839 Speaker 2: Yeah. After our taco pit stop, we got in line 582 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,759 Speaker 2: to cross back to the US. The line is longer 583 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:35,440 Speaker 2: in the morning because you are going to work. That's 584 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:39,759 Speaker 2: when the line and about forty five minutes later made it. 585 00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:44,279 Speaker 4: So what he said, where are you going? In a 586 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,520 Speaker 4: very serious voice. I said, I'm going home to San Diego. 587 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:51,320 Speaker 4: And he said, why were you here? Why were you 588 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:53,719 Speaker 4: in Mexico? I guess, he said, And I said to 589 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:56,560 Speaker 4: get medication from my son. And he said do you 590 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,600 Speaker 4: have it with you? I said yes, and he said, 591 00:36:58,719 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 4: let me see it. And I opened it up and 592 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,000 Speaker 4: I said, it's insulin. It needs to be refrigerated. And 593 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 4: he looked at my little refrigeration pack and he said, okay, 594 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:10,560 Speaker 4: thank you. And that was it. And I've got two boxes. 595 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:13,359 Speaker 4: I've got ten pens in each box, three to four 596 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:21,440 Speaker 4: months supply and woo, saved one thousand bucks. Success. 597 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,239 Speaker 2: Okay, so flash forward to now. 598 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 5: Do you want me to hold it so you don't 599 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:36,319 Speaker 5: have to reach like that? 600 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:36,840 Speaker 9: Do you mean to? 601 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:39,919 Speaker 5: Or we can boast it on the couch. Why don't 602 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:40,760 Speaker 5: we boast it on the couch? 603 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:41,240 Speaker 6: Okay? 604 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:44,280 Speaker 5: Oh, I want to get my spreadsheet. 605 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:47,080 Speaker 2: It's been about a year and a half since our 606 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:49,799 Speaker 2: trip tot Tikuanna to buy insulin with Aaron. So my 607 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,400 Speaker 2: producer Kinsey met up with Aaron back in San Diego 608 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:56,480 Speaker 2: to check in, and since then, Aaron says she hasn't 609 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 2: crossed the border at all, in part because of the pandemic. 610 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:03,280 Speaker 5: I didn't go back because everything got shut. 611 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:08,080 Speaker 2: Down, but also because Aarin, being the savvy, spreadsheet making 612 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:12,080 Speaker 2: the loving woman she is, did some research and figured 613 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:14,960 Speaker 2: out a way to get more affordable insulin on this 614 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:15,920 Speaker 2: side of the border. 615 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:19,720 Speaker 4: I found a savings card, which I don't think I knew. 616 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:22,480 Speaker 4: I don't think I had when we were walking across that. 617 00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:28,120 Speaker 4: And the savings card is this bizarre thing that says, oh, 618 00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 4: instead of paying seven hundred dollars a month for your insulin, 619 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:32,720 Speaker 4: you pay zero or you pay. 620 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:35,080 Speaker 5: Twenty five dollars. And it's if. 621 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:38,440 Speaker 4: You don't know about it, like it's a big deal. 622 00:38:38,719 --> 00:38:43,040 Speaker 5: It's a big difference. So the insurance company, it's. 623 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:47,759 Speaker 4: Offered through the pharmaceutical company, and you just have to 624 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:50,120 Speaker 4: notice search for it online. 625 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:54,000 Speaker 2: So yeah, Aaron has found yet another price hack for insulin, 626 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 2: though it doesn't come into play until after she pays 627 00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 2: out her insurance's three thousand dollars. Deductive and Liz Salcido. 628 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:12,319 Speaker 2: She actually lost her job right before the pandemic hit, 629 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:15,840 Speaker 2: and like I said before, she had to start rationing 630 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:18,600 Speaker 2: her insulin because she was just too afraid to get 631 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:22,799 Speaker 2: the virus while crossing the border. But the unexpected upside 632 00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:26,760 Speaker 2: was that being unemployed meant she eventually qualified for medical 633 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:30,640 Speaker 2: so a few months into the pandemic, for the first 634 00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:34,799 Speaker 2: time since her diabetes diagnosis, Liz got insurance that now 635 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:36,960 Speaker 2: covers the full cost of her insulin. 636 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:39,600 Speaker 7: Now they cover everything, so I don't have to go 637 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 7: to Tijuana, and it makes it a lot easier. It 638 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:44,760 Speaker 7: makes life a little different. 639 00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:50,400 Speaker 2: But here's the thing, Liz says, she feels completely stuck 640 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:54,440 Speaker 2: in this ridiculous catch twenty two because if she gets 641 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 2: a job, she'll lose medical and if the job doesn't 642 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:03,200 Speaker 2: have good benefits, her insulent affordability problem could come right 643 00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:05,760 Speaker 2: back and she'll be back to crossing the border. 644 00:40:06,239 --> 00:40:08,400 Speaker 7: It's still sort of in the back of my mind. 645 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:10,640 Speaker 7: You know that once I go back to work, my 646 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:14,560 Speaker 7: insurance will go back to being covered California, and then 647 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:18,160 Speaker 7: I'll go back to having a Copey. Then you know, 648 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 7: I'll have to worry about crossing the border. I love 649 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:26,040 Speaker 7: having that option of being able to cross the border 650 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:29,280 Speaker 7: and going to Mexico because you you know, you really 651 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:32,480 Speaker 7: pay what things are worth, not the exaggerated prices that 652 00:40:32,520 --> 00:40:35,440 Speaker 7: we have here in the United States, and then we 653 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:38,440 Speaker 7: get tacos, So that's the bonus. 654 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:58,120 Speaker 2: Port of Entry is written and produced by Kinsey Morland. 655 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:01,720 Speaker 2: Emily Jenkowski is the coporducer and director of sound design. 656 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:06,560 Speaker 2: Alisa Barba edited this episode. Lisa Morissett is operations manager, 657 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:10,280 Speaker 2: and John Decker is the interim Associate General Manager of content. 658 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:14,000 Speaker 2: This program is made possible in part by the Corporation 659 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:18,400 Speaker 2: for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American People. 660 00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:21,600 Speaker 2: I'm Alan Lilienthal Gracias person. 661 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:48,919 Speaker 7: Latino USA is made possible in part by New York 662 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:53,600 Speaker 7: Women's Foundation, the New York Women's Foundation funding women leaders 663 00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:57,720 Speaker 7: that build solutions in their communities and celebrating thirty years 664 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:04,080 Speaker 7: of radical generosity, and the Windcoat Foundation funding for Latino usas. 665 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:05,560 Speaker 3: Coverage of a Culture of 666 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 7: Health is made possible in part by a grant from 667 00:42:08,200 --> 00:42:09,960 Speaker 7: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.