Medica 2019 Annual Report

JDRF @JDRF We applaud health insurance provider, @Medica4Me as they

THE POWER OF Innovation Being innovative requires more than bright ideas. It takes courage. Boldness. A willingness to be the first to try, and sometimes to fail. To question what is, to envision what could be, and to blaze a trail between them. Tackling the Insulin Crisis The cost of insulin has risen so much in the last decade that it has actually become one of the life-threatening complications of diabetes. According to the medical journal Diabetes Care , the annual per-capita expense for medications to treat diabetes reached nearly $5,000 by 2017. Unable to afford their medicine, many people began to ration it and some died as a result. We recognized this issue as a public health crisis, and we knew we couldn’t wait for others to solve the problem. We chose to act immediately to protect our members. In August 2019, we announced a limit to the member out-of-pocket cost for insulin. We implemented a cap of $25 per month for our individual and fully insured group members in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, with no increase in premiums. We were the first health plan in our service area to do so, as noted by the many journalists, political leaders and diabetes advocates who spread the word and cheered our move. We were proud to lead our industry on this important issue.

announce a monthly cap for out-of- pocket expenses for #insulin. We continue to urge other plans to do the same to ensure this life-saving drug is affordable for those who need it. #Coverage2Control

Jill Burcum @jburcum Bravo, Medica! Glad to see this MN insurer volunteer one of the many solutions needed for insulin affordability crisis. Private sector shouldn’t wait for #mnleg. Would like to see @_HealthPartners, @ucaremn & Blue Cross MN step up.

– Star Tribune editorial writer

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