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At latimes.com, cheap prescription drugs might help to "soothe the pain" of high health insurance rates. But, as it's made clear in the article, lowering the price of those drugs is proving to be very difficult.

In 2003 more than 15% of insured Americans had skipped a refill for their medicine because of the cost. And last year, more than 10% of the 39 million people enrolled in Medicare's prescription drug plan paid out-of-pocket for drugs that potentially cost hundreds of dollars.

And this doesn't even take into account all of those who can't afford medical coverage. Health insurance rates have gone up 90% in the last 10 years, much higher than inflation or the American minimum wage.

So, would cheap prescription drugs ease that burden?

Absolutely. Too bad it isn't going to happen anytime too soon.

Prescription drug use has been rising steadily in the last 5 years, and it's predicted to go up even more. And while lawmakers push for legislation that would make it easier to get cheap prescription drugs from Canada, such efforts are opposed by the Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical lobby.

For the time being, those who want to find or keep affordable health insurance rates will have to remember that the cheapest and easiest way to do it is to shop around extensively for medical coverage, and to eat right and stay healthy for as long as possible.