Prescription drug costs are out of control, and too many Pennsylvanians are getting slammed with surprise bills at the pharmacy counter. When patients get help paying for their medication, they expect it to lower their costs — not trigger another bill. That’s why we’re introducing the Prescription Drug Copay Fairness Act, to stop an insurance loophole that takes more money out of patients’ pockets.
 
Many people with chronic or serious conditions rely on copay help to afford their medicines. But under so-called “copay accumulator” policies, insurers take the money but don’t give patients credit toward deductibles or out-of-pocket limits. As a result, that copay help is drained early in the year. When it’s gone, families are suddenly hit with the full cost of their medication. That’s what a copay accumulator does: it takes the help without giving patients credit, so they’re suddenly stuck paying the full price of their medication.
 
Banning copay accumulators won’t solve everything. We still need to bring down drug prices and make healthcare more affordable overall. But it is an important, common-sense step that delivers immediate relief at a time when costs are rising across the board, helping prevent surprise pharmacy bills and keeping people on the medications they need.