UnitedHealthcare expands direct-to-consumer pharmacy discounts

USA-based UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, announced on Tuesday that it will expand pharmacy discounts to millions of its plan participants when they fill prescriptions through retail pharmacies or home delivery.

The new program, which comes in response to growing consumer frustration over drug prices, will apply to over 7 million people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare fully insured commercial group benefit plans, lowering out-of-pocket costs by directly providing consumers with savings from pharmacy manufacturer rebates at the time of purchase. Discounts can range from a few dollars to more than $1,000, depending on the medication.

Beginning January 1, 2019, and on plan renewal thereafter, people enrolled in fully insured group health benefit plans will have discounts applied to their medication cost at the point of sale. The savings will apply to plan participants who are filling a prescription for a drug where the manufacturer provides a rebate. UnitedHealthcare will apply savings from rebates upfront, at the time of sale, to ensure people are paying the lowest amount possible under their plan. Rebates are currently used to keep premiums lower for the benefit of all members and customers, rather than distributed to individual consumers.