Cap on Meds

Depends on definition of what is a med?

Is chemotherapy a med? What about self injectables?

Even more reason to avoid plans where the carriers play tricks. If you steer your clients clear of plans with obvious caps you won't have as many problems.
 
Is the $2k max aggregate or per med?

If there are plans available that don't have an Rx cap, they are preferable to a plan that imposes a cap.

So what if they don't apply the cap to meds costing over $500? What if they are on a couple of different cholesterol meds? Or multiple psych meds?

There are lots of ways to exceed $2k without ever buying a med that is $500.

It is a 2k aggregate. All BCBSNC plans include rx coverage with this limit for name brand drugs. I agree that there are many combinations of drugs that could exhaust this limt. Not looking to argue that point. However, having coverage for drugs over $500/30 day supply protects the insured from a majority of catastrophic drug costs. I can tell you from my personal book of business this has been a non issue. Though I do have a few clients who are currently or have in the past been on drugs that cost in excess of 2-3k/month.
 
my personal book of business this has been a non issue. Though I do have a few clients who are currently or have in the past been on drugs that cost in excess of 2-3k/month.

Are there plans available in NC that don't impose the Rx limit? If so, why do you sell this kind of coverage?
 
Anyone who has read "How to get your competition fired without saying anything bad about them" will know that this is a "WEDGE."

I guess I'm one of the 2% who has found limitations on brand name prescriptions to be a major issue.
 
No response in 5 days regarding availability of plans without caps. Guess I have my answer . . .
 
Yes there are many plans available that don't have RX limits.

I can't find it anywhere on BCBSNC website where they cover any prescription over $500 for a 30 day supply for INDIVIDUAL plans. All I see is a $2k max. Group policies can be customized so those are different. Whether or not it's in the policy, I would not know.

It still walks like a duck.
 
many plans available that don't have RX limits.

Unless you are captive and have no choice but to sell a lesser plan, why put your client in jeopardy if you don't have to?
 
I agree.

I can't see putting myself in the position of having recommended such a plan and I would hate to be the one with the plan. Ohhh, that's right I was one who had such a plan, and got caught.

I'm guessing it has to do with selling plans and price. In my state it seems as though it's acceptable with BCBS and Wellpath being so popular.
 
Caps on Rx benefits are the only major drawback I have found with BCBS in VA. Carefirst has a max of $1500 Rx benefit (but their rates suck and customer service is horrid, so I don't push them much). Anthem has a max of $5k/year, but on the FlexChoice they cap the client OOP cost on specialty drugs (i.e. Level 4 types) at $10k per year with a max of $500 per script.

Humana has unlimited Rx and UHC has unlimited Rx with an optional rider, but Humana's coverage is not as broad as Anthem and UHC wants to put exclusion riders on just about everything, so they can be a tough product to make work for most people. Anthem is the only carrier we sell with maternity benefits, their rate increases tend to be less than other carriers, they cover all pre-existing conditions from day 1 if the person has creditable coverage (no exclusion riders), their rates are usually better than the competition, and there is no coinsurance after deductible on the $2500+ deduct. levels, which none of the other carriers offer on their copay plans. I have found that most people are comfortable with the Rx cap of $5k given those circumstances, though I always explain it in detail.
 
most people are comfortable with the Rx cap of $5k

And most people have no clue how much meds can run.

It is your job as a professional agent to educate your client rather than taking orders.

Would you sell a plan with a $5,000 cap on surgery or hospital admission?

Same thing except more folks take meds than have surgery or end up in the hospital.

I love to come behind agents who sell plans with caps. Makes my job so much easier.
 
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