Summary
Individuals and families pay premiums for insurance to cover physician visits, hospital stays, surgery, and medications.
Insurance companies have established small co-pays for physician visits and medications.
Medication co-pays may fall under a three tier system such as 15/20/30. Fifteen dollars for a generic medication, $20 for a name brand medication and $30 for a medication off formulary.
Recently, insurance companies are instituting a new copay referred to as Tier IV requiring patients to pay 20 – 30% copays for infusions.
The 20-30% can cost the patients thousands of dollars.
The medications, although expensive, allow individuals to lead productive lives. These medications benefit individuals with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, hepatitis C and some cancers.
If insurance companies are allowed to continue with Tier IV pricing, patients will be forced to go without necessary medication.
Supporting Materials
Patients Suffer as a Result of Insurance Pricing Scheme Press Release
