Saying goodbye to member copays for 5 vital medications

With so many headlines focused on the high costs of drugs, it’s rare that consumers have access to drugs for conditions that don’t break the bank. But UnitedHealthcare made that more of a reality for people dealing with potentially life-threatening conditions — many of whom struggled to afford the medication they needed — with the Vital Medication Program.

Introduced in 2022, the Vital Medication Program — embedded for most group commercial fully insured plans and available for ASO and Level Funded plans — gives eligible UnitedHealthcare members access to the following 5 drugs for $0 out-of-pocket:

1. Insulin — used for type 1 diabetes and sometimes type 2 diabetes
2. Epinephrine — used for allergic reactions
3. Glucagon — used for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
4. Naloxone — used for opioid overdose
5. Albuterol — used for acute episodes of asthma

Understanding that out-of-pocket costs can add up quickly, especially for those managing these types of conditions or health events, the Vital Medication Program aims to remove the financial barriers to accessing critical prescriptions as part of UnitedHealthcare’s continued commitment to reduce the cost of care and bring more affordability to the pharmacy program.

Consider UnitedHealthcare member Radly, who remembers the difficulties he and his wife faced trying to afford insulin each month after her type 1 diabetes diagnosis. He recalls that there were times they “paid hundreds for insulin and begged physicians to give us a sample vial when we were low on funds or out of insulin early in our marriage.”

With programs like Vital Medication, families like  Radly’s no longer have to shoulder these overwhelming costs alone — giving them the ability to prioritize their health without the constant worry about how they’ll pay for critical medications.