HB2174 would require that health insurers offer plans with flat-dollar copays; providing predictability, better health for Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS (May 7, 2019) — A critical bill for Illinois patients will be heard May 8 by the Senate Insurance Committee in Springfield. Led by chief sponsor Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), HB2174 requires that health insurers offer co-pay only options for prescription drugs, reducing the up-front burden of deductibles and helping patients be able to better plan and budget for their health-care expenses.

The bill overwhelmingly passed the House earlier this spring, and now it needs Senate support.

Currently, most insurance plans include coinsurance that is based on paying a percentage of treatment costs which can fluctuate, causing monthly expenses, especially for the chronically ill, to be unpredictable.

More than 20 patient-advocacy groups, including those representing epilepsy, arthritis, AIDS, and cancer, are pushing for the bill, because they know that being able to plan for and access medication can make the difference between controlling your symptoms or landing in the hospital. This results in unhealthier communities and a rise in overall medical costs.

“It’s just good common sense. There are too many stories of patients rationing their prescriptions, or even skipping doses when their insurance coverage is “playing the odds” rather than being something they can rely on,” said Dave Almeida, Senior Regional Director — Government Affairs, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “That ultimately costs everyone more money — the state, insurance companies, and citizens — as patients end up in the hospital with unmanaged symptoms, and sicker than they were before.”

Rising out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance put lifesaving medications out of reach for people with chronic conditions and communicable diseases. Many medications can cost a patient between 20-50% of the drug’s total cost each month, causing people living with arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, HIV, and others to pay hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a month. When the cost of medication becomes too high for someone who needs necessary treatment, they may stop taking the medicine or skip dosages, which oftentimes causes conditions to worsen and allows the illness to spread.

To learn more about HB 2174 and the fight for affordable medication, please visit http://ilaffordablemedication.com.

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