copayment

The rule also states that if a veteran is required to make a copayment for care at a VA facility, they may also be required to pay a copayment for accessing urgent care.

Underwood announced a settlement with major biopharmaceutical company, Pfizer, following an investigation into the company's business and advertising practices for its copayment coupon program.

The explanatory variables of interest included (1) an indicator of whether a veteran had copayments required; (2) year indicator effects for 2001, 2002, and 2003; and (3) an interaction of copayment status and each time effect.

One of the most significant changes is the copayment for office visits to specialists, the treasurer said.

While health insurance offers valuable protection against the risk of incurring large health expenses when a serious illness strikes, it has long been understood that there is a down-side to insurance as well--by making health care cheaper (lowering its cost to a generally modest copayment), health insurance may induce people to consume more health care.

Community Catalyst points out that under most health plans consumers pay a larger co-payment for brand name drugs and that by subsidizing all or most of a consumer's copayment, drug companies promote the sale of the brand products over less expensive medications that are equally effective.

Because of the difference in the incidence of heart attacks and other problems, Aetna's cost of providing care for the average free-drug patient was $64,726; the average for copayment patients was $69,997.

The essential benefits package of these plans includes Bright Futures services with no copayment. Other important services such as pediatric vision, oral health, and therapies are included, with cost sharing ranging from 60% to 90% of the actuarial value of covered benefits.

Now, however, the growing number of biologic drugs available to treat cancer, immune disorders, and a variety of chronic illnesses--including multiple sclerosis (MS)--has caused some insurers to create a fourth copayment tier.

Data on patient demographics, copayment amount, generic status, source of insurance, how the prescription was transmitted, and whether the medication was for an acute or chronic condition were available.