Aetna To Offer Drug Rebates Directly To Consumers, Following In UnitedHealth’s Footsteps
Typically insurers say they generally pass rebates to their clients, such as employers. Beginning in 2019, though, Aetna will automatically apply the rebates at the time of sale to insured plan members.
The Wall Street Journal:
Aetna To Pass On Drug Rebates To Consumers
Aetna Inc. said Tuesday it would pass on drugmaker rebates directly to consumers who take the medications, in the latest move by a health insurer amid pressure to reduce costs and improve transparency around pharmaceuticals. The biggest U.S. insurer, UnitedHealth Group Inc., announced a similar move earlier this month.In recent years, the opaque system surrounding the cost of medicine and sharply increasing drug prices have come under public and government scrutiny. (Hufford, 3/27)
The Hill:
Aetna To Pass Discounts It Gets From Drug Companies Directly To Consumers
Drug manufacturers often give insurance companies discounts on prescription drugs, but insurers have faced scrutiny over whether they're passing these savings on to patients. Beginning in 2019, though, Aetna will automatically apply these rebates at the time of sale for its commercial fully insured plan members. The change will mostly benefit those with high-deductible health insurance plans, who have to pay the full price for a prescription before insurance kicks in. (Hellmann, 3/27)
Stat:
Aetna Is The Latest Insurer To Pass Drug Rebates To Consumers
“We have always believed that consumers should benefit from discounts and rebates that we negotiate with drug manufacturers,” Aetna chief executive Mark Bertolini said in a statement. “Going forward, we hope this additional transparency will encourage these companies to rationalize their pricing and end the practice of annual double-digit price increases.” Unlike UnitedHealthcare, Aetna already offers self-insured employers the option to pass on rebates at the point of sale and will continue to do so, a spokesman explained. (Silverman, 3/27)
Bloomberg:
Aetna Will Pass Along Discounts As Drug Price Scrutiny Increases
Over the last year, drugmakers, insurers and pharmacy benefit plans, or PBMs, have blamed one another for the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. PBMs and insurers have said it’s the fault of the pharmaceutical companies that frequently raise their list prices. Drugmakers blame insurers and pharmacy benefit plans for high copays, and for not passing on to patients the discounts they negotiate. People with high deductibles or co-pays are often hurt the most. (Tracer, 3/27)
Modern Healthcare:
Health Insurers, Big Pharma Play Blame Game Over Drug Prices
Health insurers and pharmaceutical companies are pointing fingers at each other for the rising cost of prescription drugs as scrutiny over drug spending intensifies. Taking a tip from UnitedHealth Group, Aetna on Tuesday said it would pass on drug rebates to its fully insured commercial plan members at the pharmacy checkout counter. The move could help about 3 million plan members save money, the company said. Aetna's total enrollment tops 22.2 million. The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's announcement is intended to redirect blame for rising drug prices toward pharmaceutical companies. (Livingston, 3/27)
