


Pharmaceutical companies often provide financial assistance (such as a copay card) to help patients afford expensive medications.

Previously, a person could receive financial assistance from companies that make a drug, and that would count towards their deductible and/or out-of-pocket costs, depending upon the insurance plan. What are copay accumulator programs? How do they impact access to medications for patients?Ī copay accumulator – or accumulator adjustment program – is a strategy used by health plans and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) that stop manufacturer copay assistance coupons from counting towards two things: the deductible and the maximum out-of-pocket spending. Instead of paying a high cost sharing alone (perhaps $50, $150 or possibly more, depending on the specifics of your insurance coverage), copay assistance helps patients afford their medicines. What is copay assistance and how does it affect access to medications for patients?Ĭopay assistance (often called a copay assistance, copay coupon, or simply a copay card) that can significantly help commercially insured patients pay their out-of-pocket costs for medicines at the pharmacy counter.
