Access to prescription medicines is a critical component of health care coverage, particularly for patients living with and managing chronic conditions. In the coming weeks, we’ll be highlighting the barriers to access many patients with health insurance exchange coverage face in accessing necessary treatments. Each post will feature new research analyzing 2015 silver plans and what access to medicines for patients with a number of chronic conditions looks like.
Look back at the picture of access in 2014 for mental health, RA, oncology, asthma, diabetes, MS and HIV/AIDS here.
Some access barriers highlighted include:
- Access limits like utilization management
- Cost sharing like high coinsurance and top-tier placement of all medicines for a condition
- Formulary coverage of treatments
Fact sheets will also highlight some of the differences across states.
We’ll be taking a deeper dive over the coming weeks, starting tomorrow with a look at access to mental health medicines and a Q&A with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Learn more at AccessBetterCoverage.org, follow us on Twitter @ABCs of Coverage or subscribe email to updates here. Check out the 2015 Burden on Patients series posts highlighted below:
Mental Health Disorders
- Blog: Burden on Patients: 5 Questions on Access to Mental Health Medicines in Health Exchange Plans
- Graphic: Utilization Management Applied to Mental Health Medicines
- Fact Sheet: Access to Mental Health Medicines in Exchange Plans
HIV/AIDS
- Blog: Burden on Patients: 5 Questions on Access to HIV/AIDS Medicines in Health Exchange Plans
- Graphic: Placing All HIV Medicines on a Specialty Tier Could Be a Barrier to Access in Health Insurance Exchange Plans
- Fact Sheet: Access to HIV/AIDS Medicines in Exchange Plans
Oncology
- Blog: Burden on Patients: Questions on Access to Cancer Medicines in Health Exchange Plans
- Graphic: Utilization Management Applied to Oncology Innovator Medicines
- Fact Sheet: Access to Oncology Medicines in Exchange Plans
Asthma
- Blog: Burden on Patients: 5 Questions on Access to Asthma Medicines in Health Exchange Plans
- Graphic: Utilization Management for Asthma Medicines Could Be a Barrier to Access in Health Insurance Exchange Plans
- Fact Sheet: Access to Asthma Medicines in Exchange Plans
Diabetes
- Blog: Burden on Patients: 5 Questions on Access to Diabetes Medicines in Health Exchange Plans
- Graphic: Utilization Management for Diabetes Medicines Could Be a Barrier to Access in Health Insurance Exchange Plans
- Fact Sheet: Access to Diabetes Medicines in Exchange Plans
Multiple Sclerosis
- Blog: Burden on Patients: 5 Questions on access to multiple sclerosis medicines in health exchange plans
- Fact Sheet: Access to Multiple Sclerosis Medicines in Exchange Plans
Rheumatoid Arthritis

Allyson Funk Ally is a former senior director of public affairs at PhRMA focused on advocacy issues for the biopharmaceutical industry. Her expertise includes Medicare, Medicaid, 340B, health reform and more. Prior to PhRMA, her experience included leading health communications for a large membership organization, supporting public affairs clients and working for the governor of Louisiana.
Topics: Access, Affordable Care Act, Burden on Patients, Access Better Coverage