S2, Ep 4- Patients Stuck with Health Care Deductible Bills Healthcare Matters

Majority of insurance and pharmacy benefit management companies offer copay accumulator adjustment programs. However, for patients, what these programs do and what they mean is shrouded in mystery. In this week's episode, we break down copay accumulator adjustment programs, and how they impact you as a patient.

"The patient is the one that is going to get stuck in the middle. And at some point, they are going to suffer- both financially and also in a way to be able to get care that is necessary to them," says Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:32: Listener review

2:05: What are copay accumulator adjustment programs?

3:17: How are these programs impacting patients negatively? 

3:53: An explanation of how deductibles are still costing patients

4:40: Why do these programs still exist and who are they benefiting?

5:32: Which patients are most impacted by copay accumulator adjustment programs? 

6:23: What these programs mean for patients living with chronic disease  

8:19: A look at what's being done politically

9:58: How a large portion of patients are being impacted by this

11:22: Is there evidence that these bans in certain states are raising premiums? 

11:55: Robert shares his final thoughts

Contact our hosts:

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: cmertens@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself to Healthcarematters@GHLF.org.

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