Share of Cost, It is Illegal to Use Part D Drug Copayment Coupons

Wednesday, May. 13th 2015 6:13 AM

Did you know it’s illegal for Medicare beneficiaries to use coupons for their Part D drugs? Most people don’t….but it is. Coupons are a way that drug companies can entice beneficiaries to use drugs whose copayment, let alone the full cost of the drugs, would otherwise be too expensive. This means Medicare is then footing the bill for these more expensive brand name drugs that without coupons beneficiaries wouldn’t use. They would instead use lower cost generics. Drug companies are supposed to use safeguards to ensure beneficiaries don’t use coupons to get these high cost drugs, but such efforts are lacking, according to a recent Office of Inspector General report (PDF). The OIG found that up to 7% of beneficiaries use coupons to purchase their drugs, which amounts to about 2 million people buying more expensive drugs than they would otherwise and hence racking up Medicare’s Part D drug tab.

While beneficiaries are just doing what seems like a smart and legit way to get the drugs they require at a price they can afford, this coupon use is illegal and drug companies are most likely letting it go unchecked to protect and sustain their own profit margins.

 

Posted on Wednesday, May. 13th 2015 6:13 AM | by Share of Cost | in Social Security | Comments Off on Share of Cost, It is Illegal to Use Part D Drug Copayment Coupons