End harmful copay accumulator programs
Ask your elected officials to support The HELP Copays Act and ban copay accumulator programs.
People living with serious and chronic health conditions frequently face sky-high deductibles and steep cost-sharing requirements when paying for their medications. Often, the only way they can afford their medications is through patient assistance.
However, many health plans have changed the rules when it comes to patient assistance, by no longer allowing assistance received on behalf of a member to count towards their deductible or out-of-pocket responsibilities. These harmful policies are known as copay accumulator programs.
A harmful policy that impacts thousands
Robin was one of thousands affected by these policies last year. She used patient assistance to help meet her out-of-pocket responsibility for primary myelofibrosis treatment. It was the only way she was able to afford her prescriptions.
But then her husband’s company changed insurance plans to a high-deductible plan with a copay accumulator program, which did not allow the patient assistance to count toward their annual deductible.
For years, I was able to use patient assistance to help meet the increasing out of pocket responsibility before accessing my medications. It was shocking to have a $10,000 surprise in January. It had taken us years to build our savings and then it was gone.
Robin Lancaster, Kentucky
And it’s not just Robin. These policies impact thousands of people across the U.S. In some states, the only insurance plans available in the exchange marketplace have copay accumulator programs.
Take action
A new bill has been introduced in Congress that can put a stop to this. The HELP Copays Act (H.R. 830/S. 1375) would prohibit the use of accumulator adjuster programs.
We need your help. Please take a few minutes to reach out to your elected officials asking them to support the HELP Copays Act, so that these barriers are eliminated, and vulnerable patients are protected from unaffordable healthcare costs. Add your own personal message to the email as well to show your support!
Send a message to your elected officials with the form above to ask for a ban on these harmful practices.
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