Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to ensuring that people have timely access to safe, effective and affordable cutting-edge prescription medicines when they need them, whether the drugs cost pennies or thousands of dollars.
As prescription drug prices continue to climb, BCBS companies are working to ensure that members get the medication they need at a cost they can afford.
Insurance benefits COVER MORE THAN 98% of prescription drug costs for people who need MORE THAN $100,000 in medicine per year.
Source: Express Scripts. “Super Spending: U.S. Trends in High-Cost Medication Use.” May 2015.
The average cost of generic drugs can be as much as 95% LOWER than the brand-name product, depending on the number of generics that enter the market.
Source: Food and Drug Administration. “Generic Competition and Drug Prices.” December 13, 2019.
On average, those with coverage through their employer pay only $11 A MONTH for prescription drugs.
Source: Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. "Who is most likely to have high prescription drugs costs?” September 29, 2020.
Promote greater competition and consumer choice to lower prices.
Require drug companies to be transparent when pricing prescription medicines.
Provide health care professionals with tools to support patient education.
Make regulatory changes to help patients get the right medicines at the best price.
Learn more about what we recommend to address prescription drug prices.