Pharmaceutical Executive
In an effort to cope with soaring healthcare costs, more employers are establishing three-tier prescription drug benefit plans for workers.
In an effort to cope with soaring healthcare costs, more employers are establishing three-tier prescription drug benefit plans for workers. This year, almost 60 percent of workers with health insurance have pharmacy coverage that sets higher cost-sharing formulas for non-preferred medicines, compared with preferred products or generics. That figure is up considerably from the 36 percent of three-tiered plans in 2001 and is double the 29 percent rate in 2000. (See "More Workers Pay More.") The cost of pharmaceuticals within these tiers is also higher: brand-name therapies for which generic substitutes are available now cost consumers an average $26 co-pay per prescription, up from $20 in 2001, according to an annual survey of employer benefit plans conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and the Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET). A total of 85 percent of workers now are in either two- or three-tiered plans, as more employers take steps to keep prescription drug costs under control.
More Workers Pay More
Beyond the Prescription: Pharma's Role in Digital Health Conversations
April 1st 2025Join us for an insightful conversation with Jennifer Harakal, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Canopy Life Sciences, as we unpack the evolving intersection of social media and healthcare decisions. Discover how pharmaceutical companies can navigate regulatory challenges while meaningfully engaging with consumers in digital spaces. Jennifer shares expert strategies for responsible marketing, working with influencers, and creating educational content that bridges the gap between patients and healthcare providers. A must-listen for pharma marketers looking to build trust and compliance in today's social media landscape.
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