UnitedHealthcare To Eliminate Out-of-Pocket Costs on Several Prescription Drugs, Including Insulin, for Eligible Members

Rhea-AI Summary

UnitedHealthcare announces a significant policy change that eliminates out-of-pocket costs for certain preferred prescription drugs, including insulins and emergency medications, effective January 1, 2023, pending regulatory approval. This initiative aims to alleviate medical expenses for consumers and improve medication adherence. The initiative aligns with UnitedHealth Group's ongoing efforts to enhance drug affordability. The medications included are Epinephrine, Glucagon, Naloxone, and Albuterol, all offered at $0 cost-sharing.

Positive

• Elimination of out-of-pocket costs for critical medications, enhancing access to necessary treatments.
• Potential reduction in hospitalizations due to improved medication adherence.

Negative

• None.

• Eligible members will pay $0 out of pocket for preferred short and long-acting insulins and emergency use drugs that are critical in acute, life-saving circumstances
• Action is part of ongoing UnitedHealth Group efforts to improve access and make prescription drugs more affordable for people

MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UnitedHealthcare will eliminate out-of-pocket costs in standard fully insured group plans for certain preferred prescription drugs, including insulin and several drugs used to treat emergencies such as severe allergic reactions, hypoglycemia, opioid overdoses, and acute asthma attacks. This new standard offering will be available to group fully insured plans potentially as early as January 1, 2023, subject to any required regulatory approval.

Eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for these critical medications can help reduce the burden of medical costs on consumers and encourage better medication adherence, reducing the risk of complications and expensive hospitalizations.

These actions are part of UnitedHealth Group’s ongoing efforts to ensure people get the drugs they need and to make health care more affordable. Offering these preferred drugs at $0 cost share builds on past moves by both UnitedHealthcare and Optum Rx, including point-of-sale discounts that have delivered millions of dollars of savings directly to consumers at the pharmacy counter.

“High prices are a significant barrier to prescription drugs for many people, so we are using our unique capabilities to deliver savings for consumers,” said Brian Thompson, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare. “We are doing what we can to shield people from the prices set by pharmaceutical companies, and hope all stakeholders also will act to make prescription drugs more affordable.”

In addition to insulin, four preferred emergency use medications will be included in the new standard offering and will also have a $0 cost share:

• Epinephrine – severe allergic reactions
• Glucagon – hypoglycemia
• Naloxone – opioid overdoses
• Albuterol – acute asthma attacks

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.5 million physicians and care professionals, and 7,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220715005174/en/

Matt Wiggin

UnitedHealthcare

860-702-6142

matthew_n_wiggin@uhc.com

Source: UnitedHealthcare

FAQ

What medications will UnitedHealthcare cover at $0 cost share starting January 1, 2023?

UnitedHealthcare will cover certain insulins and emergency use medications like Epinephrine, Glucagon, Naloxone, and Albuterol at $0 cost share.

Why is UnitedHealthcare eliminating out-of-pocket costs for certain prescriptions?

The elimination of out-of-pocket costs aims to reduce medical expenses for consumers and improve adherence to critical medications.

When will the new prescription cost-sharing policy take effect?

The new policy is set to take effect on January 1, 2023, subject to regulatory approval.

How does this change affect UnitedHealthcare members?

Members will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket for preferred short and long-acting insulins and emergency medications, reducing financial barriers to essential treatments.

What is the purpose of UnitedHealthcare's initiative to eliminate drug costs?

The initiative is designed to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, particularly for life-saving medications.