Express Scripts, Cigna’s pharmacy benefit manager, launched the Patient Assurance Program in 2020 to ensure patients with diabetes in participating plans did not pay more than $25 for a 30-day supply of insulin. The program has since been expanded to include certain non-insulin diabetes treatments with copays capped at $25 for up to a 34-day supply.
Four key takeaways:
- In 2021, enrolled members improved adherence to their Type 2 diabetes treatments by 2.5 percent. For enrolled members with household incomes less than $50,000, adherence increased 5.7 percent.
- In 2021, approximately 220,000 enrolled members received relief totaling $42.7 million. With the addition of cardiovascular therapies in 2022, savings are expected to reach approximately $60 million this year.
- Enrolled members’ total diabetes-related cost share, including medical and pharmacy costs, decreased 50.5 percent.
- Outpatient costs were 18.6 percent lower, inpatient costs were 17.7 percent lower and emergency room costs were 12.1 percent lower.
