MHE Question of the Week: Should the Medicare Cap Be Extended?

One of the most important provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act caps the out-of-pocket prescription drug costs of Medicare Beneficiaries. A $3,250 cap went into effect this year and will be lowered to $2,000 next year. But the limit only applies to those with Part D Medicare coverage, the part of Medicare that covers prescription drugs. President Joe Biden proposed extending the cap to health insurance sold on the commercial market in his State of the Union speech last week. Proponents of such limits say they make high-priced medications affordable, improving access to drugs that can reduce illness and lengthen lives. Detractors say limits will make premiums more expensive and also have long-term negative effects on the development of drugs.

Should the Medicare $2,000 per year cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs be extended to commercial insurance?

Please pick the statement that most closely resembles your view

We want to know what you’re thinking! Every Monday morning the editors of Managed Healthcare Executive are posing a question to our readers about a timely issue in U.S. healthcare. Answers will be published every Friday.