On Monday, one of the biggest pharmacy benefit managers in the drug world, Express Scripts, said it would begin offering a lower rate for a select group of frequently<br />used drugs to people without health insurance, or to those who are stuck in plans with such high deductibles they couldn’t otherwise afford their medications.<br />The program, InsideRx, is a subsidiary of Express Scripts<br />and will work when consumers sign up for the service, which is free, and present a discount card or a mobile app to pharmacies around the country — including major chains like CVS and Walgreens, and at Kroger supermarkets — to get discounts that average around one-third off the list price.<br />“Drug prices are so high that even with a discount, medication will unfortunately be out of reach for many uninsured or underinsured Americans,”<br />Mr. Wakana said, questioning the motives of pharmacy benefit managers such as Express Scripts, which are known as P. B.M.s.<br />Timothy C. Wentworth, the chief executive of Express Scripts, said about 30 million Americans either have no insurance or high deductible plans.<br />It comes just days after Republicans passed a health care bill<br />that some estimate could leave millions of Americans without health insurance, and when there is considerable uncertainty among various layers of the nation’s health care industries.<br />Express Scripts to Offer Cheaper Drugs for Uninsured Customers -<br />By KATIE THOMASMAY 8, 2017<br />It is one of the most acute indignities of being uninsured in this country: Those with<br />the least ability to pay are asked to spend the most for their prescription drugs.
