In recent months, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has reported a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Public health officials have also raised concerns around rising cases of flu and RSV, and the potential for a 'tripledemic.' This challenge requires urgent action by health insurance plans to ensure that Americans can access the necessary treatments to avoid severe symptoms and long-lasting impacts of COVID-19.
Antiviral therapies for COVID-19 have proven time and again to be critical in the fight against the virus. Studies showed that one COVID-19 antiviral treatment decreased the risk of death by 47% and the risk of hospitalization by 24% over a six-month period. Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 must be administered within five days of the first symptoms of COVID-19 to maintain maximum efficacy, so patients do not have time to wait to navigate complex barriers to care.
By removing access barriers to COVID-19 therapeutics, health plans can support efforts to mitigate the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on rural and other historically underserved groups and protect all Americans from severe illness and hospitalization.
Take action today by sending a letter to health insurance plans urging them to make COVID-19 antiviral treatments affordable and accessible to all patients.
To whom it may concern,
As a concerned citizen, I urge you to take action to provide affordable and accessible coverage of effective COVID-19 antiviral treatments, ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable members in our community.
Since receiving U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval, COVID-19 antiviral treatments have demonstrated success in lowering the risk of more severe symptoms and hospitalization due to the virus. Studies show that one COVID-19 antiviral treatment decreased the risk of death by 47% and the risk of hospitalization by 24% over a six-month period. For unvaccinated individuals who took the same treatment, the risk of hospitalization or death was 81% less.
Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 must be administered within five days of symptom onset to maintain maximum efficacy. Patients simply do not have time to wait to navigate complex cost and access barriers to effective care. In a recent survey of Americans age 50 and older, more than 55% of respondents expressed interest in taking an antiviral therapy to protect themselves from serious complications associated with the virus. With low or $0 copays for these antiviral treatments, patients with COVID-19 will be able to act quickly and protect themselves from more severe and long-lasting symptoms of the virus without worry of financial burden.
As our health care system continues to navigate COVID-19 and the potential threat of a 'tripledemic' this winter, it is vital that you clear the way for all patients to access COVID-19 antiviral treatments. Please take action to protect patients and remove affordability barriers to effective treatments for COVID-19.
[Your comment here]
Thank you,
[Your name here]
