Non-medical switching occurs when an insurer "switches" a patient's prescribed medicine for a non-medical reason. This can happen in a number of ways, including:
- Assigning the medication a higher co-pay
- Increasing patients' out-of-pocket requirements
- Eliminating coverage for certain medications
Non-medical switching can negatively impact people's lives in many ways. Patients have reported side effects from new medication, medical complications, symptom resurgence, and disruption of work and home life. These problems can require more doctor visits, trips to the emergency room and even hospitalizations. Access to prescription medications is critical to patient health, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Yet, some insurers are leaving in place barriers to treatment that limit access to necessary medicines.
We've heard from patients across Texas about how they have been impacted by non-medical switching:
"It's disgusting to hear that companies do this and it should be absolutely illegal. It shows they don't care about the people they're given money to care for." – Megan C., San Marco, TX
As so many people face health and financial issues during the pandemic, Texans need relief from insurance company practices like non-medical switching. Thankfully, state lawmakers in Texas are fighting to protect patients.
Sign in support of Texas lawmakers passing legislation to keep patients stable on their critical medication and preserve the doctor-patient relationship. Together we can STOP non-medical switching.
