$0 copays could save billions
Eliminating copays for certain high-value medical services, such as chronic disease medications and preventive care, could reduce overall healthcare spending by billions of dollars by improving patient adherence and avoiding costly emergency treatments.
Background
- The article argues for eliminating copays (patient out-of-pocket fees) on certain high-value medical services, suggesting this would reduce overall healthcare spending by improving medication adherence and preventive care.
- "Value-based insurance design" (VBID): the idea that copays should be low or zero for treatments with proven high medical benefit (e.g., insulin, blood pressure drugs, cancer screenings), and higher for low-value care.
- Research consistently shows that even small copays cause many patients to skip essential medications or doctor visits, leading to costlier ER visits, hospitalizations, and complications down the line.
- The proposal is framed as politically viable across party lines because it pairs cost-saving logic with better health outcomes, and has been piloted by some private insurers and Medicare Advantage plans.