Iowa Patient Advocacy Organizations Applaud Legislation to Protect Iowans and their Families from Rising Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs and to Increase Patient Choice

New Proposed Legislation, [BILL NUMBER],Would Give Iowa Families More Predictable Co-pay Options and Allow Insurers to Continue to Manage Costs through Coinsurance

Des Moines, IA (January X, 2017): The Iowa Co-pay Choice Coalition, an alliance of patient groups focused on lowering out-of-pocket costs and delivering predictable co-pays for Iowa families, today announced its support for [BILL NUMBER], new common-sense patient protection legislation from Senator Mark Segebart (R-Vail) and Delegate [NAME]. The legislation will help promote patient choice and medical affordability by ensuring that pre-deductible, flat dollar co-payment health coverage options are available to all Iowans.

“Rising out-of-pocket costs and the increased use of coinsurance is putting the cost of medical treatment beyond reach for many Iowa patients and their families, and forcing them to make heartbreaking choices, such as whether to cover the cost of necessary medications or put food on the table,” said Lynn Albizo, Director of Public Policy for the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), a member of the Iowa Co-pay Choice Coalition. “We applaud Senator Segebart and Delegate [NAME] and we urge all Iowa legislators to support this important patient protection legislation, which would help all Iowans, particularly those with costly chronic conditions, afford the medications they need.”

Iowa health insurers are increasingly relying on “coinsurance,” which forces patients to pay a percentage of the total cost of their medication rather than a traditional, flat co-payment. For those with serious chronic medical conditions, including leukemia and lymphoma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, HIV/AIDs, and others, coinsurance can put the cost of treatment out of reach. [BILL NUMBER] would help give Iowa families choice and co-pay predictability by requiring that insurance providers offer a minimum number of plans that provide a traditional co-pay option.Health insurers would still be able to offer other plans that rely on coinsurance.

“Many Iowa patients and their families, including those who already have health insurance, face financial uncertainty as they try to access the care they need. [BILL NUMBER] is a common-sense solution that will give Iowa families more choice and predictability, close an existing legislative loophole, and help reign in out-of-pocket costs, all without strong-arming insurance providers or distorting legislative markets,” said [Senator Segebart].”

Background - Although the intention of coinsurance is to encourage the use of cheaper generic medicines, the Iowans who often end up unable to afford their coveragebecause of costly coinsurance are disproportionately those living with complex, chronic conditions, where generic drugs are often unavailable or simply not as effective as the carefully-crafted medical regimen that a patient and their doctor have worked out. Two states – Colorado and Montana – have already adopted the solution proposed by [BILL NUMBER], and neither state has seen their premiums rise as a result. Iowa should follow this innovative approach to close the coinsurance loophole and give more choice to help Iowans afford the excellent healthcare they deserve.

About Iowa Co-pay Choice Coalition

The Iowa Co-pay Choice Coalition is an organization of patient groups focused on lowering out-of-pocket costs and developing a solution for co-pay amounts. We are working to enact legislation to protect Iowans, expand insurance plans, and make sure that individuals in need are not taken advantage of by deductibles, tiering, and increasing costs. The coalition can also be found on Facebook (/IowaCopayChoiceCoalition) and Twitter (@IowaCopayChoice). The Iowa Co-pay Choice Coalition includes:

  • Alliance for Patient Access (AfPA)
  • Arthritis Foundation (AF)
  • Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCF)
  • Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO)
  • Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF)
  • Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA)
  • Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness Iowa (NAMI Iowa)
  • National Psoriasis Foundation (NPS)
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society)
  • U.S. Pain Foundation
  • National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD)

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