VA
Prescription Co-Pays to Increase by $1
November 16, 2005
"Through
sound management practices, efficient pharmacy operations and price
negotiations that put veterans first, VA has been able to contain prescription
drug costs,” said the Honorable R.
The
increase to $8 from $7 for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs is required
by federal law, which bases VA's co-payments for outpatient prescriptions on
increases in the Medical Consumer Price Index.
The
$1 increase will not affect veterans who have an injury or illness connected
with their military service resulting in a 50 percent or greater disability. Also
known as “Priority Group 1” veterans, these patients will see no change in
their current prescription drug benefit, Nicholson said.
Other
veterans with less pronounced service-connected ailments – those classified
as Priority Groups 2 through 6 – will see their prescription drug co-pays
rise by $1, but their annual out-of-pocket expenses for VA medicine will
remain capped. The new cap will rise to $960 per year, up $120 from
the previous level. This means veterans in Priority Groups 2
through 6 will pay no more than $960 annually for VA outpatient medicine.
Veterans
who have no injury or illness related in any way to their prior military
service – referred to as Priority Groups 7 and 8 – will also see their
co-payments increase, but there is no cap on annual payments for outpatient
medicine.
Not
all prescription drugs will be subject to the $1 increase. Outpatient
medications not subject to co-payments include:
· Medication
for treatment of a service-connected disability;
· Medication
for a veteran who has a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more;
· Medication
for a veteran disabled by 50 percent or more for unemployability;
· Medication
for a veteran whose annual income does not exceed the amount of VA pensions;
· Medications
for health problems that may be linked to Agent Orange for
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