CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Partners with Civica to Increase Access to Low-Cost Insulin
Company joins Affordable Insulin Initiative to support consumer availability of affordable insulins
Baltimore, Md./Washington, D.C. – Today, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) announced it will join the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and several other Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) Plan companies in Civica’s Affordable Insulin initiative to manufacture and distribute affordable insulins that, once approved, will be accessible to people living with diabetes at significantly lower cost. The new insulins are expected to be available to all consumers for $30 or less per vial beginning in 2024.
“CareFirst is proud to join Civica’s initiative as part of the important effort to make this life-saving medication more affordable and accessible for the people we serve,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst. “Far too often, economic instability and soaring prescription prices force people to choose between paying for medications or other necessities of life.”
The high cost of insulin is a financial burden on the more than 8 million Americans who rely on insulin to live. Nearly one in four people who use insulin report having to skip doses or take less than prescribed amounts due to the medicine’s escalating cost. The high price and lack of access have resulted in many individuals developing preventable complications and health conditions. The creation and distribution of affordable insulin options through the Civica initiative will benefit people with diabetes who may be putting their lives at risk because they cannot pay for the medication they need.
“Our partnership with Civica complements the significant investment CareFirst has made with community partners and stakeholders to improve the factors contributing to the development of chronic diseases like diabetes and the impact they have on people’s health outcomes and quality of life,” said Stacia Cohen, Executive Vice President of Health Services for CareFirst. “This initiative supports access to affordable insulin for those who need it.”
CareFirst’s participation with Civica and other partners across the healthcare industry on this initiative reinforces its work as a community champion addressing diabetes for people in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. In 2021, CareFirst announced a $10.5 million investment to improve health outcomes for communities, families and individuals who have a diagnosis or are at higher risk of developing diabetes. The multi-year initiative will focus on addressing the root causes of diabetes, especially the economic, environmental, and social conditions that shape unequal health outcomes. The company recently partnered with local health organizations to address the social determinants of health (SODH) that impact the severity or likelihood of developing diabetes. CareFirst remains committed to addressing chronic conditions and the accessibility affordability, and equity in care for the people we serve and the communities where they live.
About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In its 85th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.6 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2021, CareFirst invested $26.2 million to improve overall health, and increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of healthcare throughout its market areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit our website at www.carefirst.com and our transforming healthcare page at www.carefirst.com/transformation, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.