Dear Representative Kortz,
My Name is Frank Austin and I am your constituent. As someone affected by MS (multiple sclerosis); I am contacting you about an issue that is very important to me, non-medical switching. Non-medical switching refers to changes health insurers make to prescription drug benefits during the plan year, for reasons that are unrelated to patients’ health or safety. Such changes can force stable patients to switch drugs or even stop taking a needed medication.
When consumers enroll in a health plan, they sign a contract for an entire year. People with chronic conditions like MS base their decisions to enroll in a particular health plan based on the available information about the medications they need. Changes to plan design or drug tiers in the middle of the plan year leave patients with limited options; pay more for their medications, find an alternate therapy, or forego treatment altogether. It is inherently unfair for one party to a contact to make changes during a contact period and these changes can have negative impacts on the consumers health.
Rep. Oberlander will soon be introducing legislation which would amend Pennsylvanias Unfair Insurance Practices Act to prohibit health insurers from altering the coverage or premiums included in an insured’s health insurance policy during the policy term when an insured has already received a specific treatment, service or prescription drug.
As your constituent, I am asking that you consider cosponsoring this important legislation (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=25076). Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely
Frank Austin
56 Hennig Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
(412) 315-9158
f.frank.austin@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment