Patient Perceptions of Copay Card Utilization and Policies

Cavalier, Dimika; Doherty, Bridget; Geonnotti, Gabrielle; Patel, Aarti; Peters, Wesley; Zona, Steven; Shea, Lisa

doi:10.1080/20016689.2023.2254586

Open AccessArticle

Patient Perceptions of Copay Card Utilization and Policies

by

Dimika Cavalier

¹,

Bridget Doherty

^2,*,

Gabrielle Geonnotti

²,

Aarti Patel

²,

Wesley Peters

³,

Steven Zona

² and

Lisa Shea

²

¹

Independent contributor and patient participant in Janssen Patient Engagement Research Council, Memphis, TN, USA

²

Bridget Doherty, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Titusville, NJ, USA

³

CorEvitas, LLC, Waltham, MA, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

J. Mark. Access Health Policy 2023, 11(1), 2254586; https://doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2023.2254586

Submission received: 3 May 2023 / Revised: 23 August 2023 / Accepted: 29 August 2023 / Published: 7 September 2023

Download

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Copay cards are intended to mitigate patient out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. This qualitative, exploratory focus group study aimed to capture patient perceptions of copay cards and copay adjustment programs (CAPs; insurers’ accumulator and maximizer policies), which redirect the copay card utilization benefits intended for patients’ OOP expenses. Methods: Patients with chronic conditions were recruited through Janssen’s Patient Engagement Research Council program. They completed a survey and attended a live virtual session to provide feedback on copay cards. Results: Among 33 participants (median age, 49 years [range, 24–78]), the most frequent conditions were cardiovascular-metabolic disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Patients associated copay cards with lessening financial burden, improving general and mental health, and enabling medication adherence. An impact on medication adherence was identified by 10 (63%) White and nine (100%) Black respondents. Some patients were unaware of CAPs despite having encountered them; they recommended greater copay card education and transparency about CAPs. Conclusion: Patients relied on copay cards to help afford their prescribed medication OOP expenses and maintain medication adherence. Use of CAPs may increase patient OOP expenses. Patients would benefit from awareness programs and industry – healthcare provider partnerships that facilitate and ensure access to copay cards.

Keywords: accumulator; copay assistance programs; insurance design; maximizer; out-of-pocket healthcare costs; prescription drug patient assistance programs

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cavalier, D.; Doherty, B.; Geonnotti, G.; Patel, A.; Peters, W.; Zona, S.; Shea, L. Patient Perceptions of Copay Card Utilization and Policies. J. Mark. Access Health Policy 2023, 11, 2254586. https://doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2023.2254586

AMA Style

Cavalier D, Doherty B, Geonnotti G, Patel A, Peters W, Zona S, Shea L. Patient Perceptions of Copay Card Utilization and Policies. Journal of Market Access & Health Policy. 2023; 11(1):2254586. https://doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2023.2254586

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cavalier, Dimika, Bridget Doherty, Gabrielle Geonnotti, Aarti Patel, Wesley Peters, Steven Zona, and Lisa Shea. 2023. "Patient Perceptions of Copay Card Utilization and Policies" Journal of Market Access & Health Policy 11, no. 1: 2254586. https://doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2023.2254586

APA Style

Cavalier, D., Doherty, B., Geonnotti, G., Patel, A., Peters, W., Zona, S., & Shea, L. (2023). Patient Perceptions of Copay Card Utilization and Policies. Journal of Market Access & Health Policy, 11(1), 2254586. https://doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2023.2254586

Article Menu

Patient Perceptions of Copay Card Utilization and Policies

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI