To the Editor:

Some health experts have advised people, like me, to stock up on critical medicines to get them through any isolation or quarantine they may face because of the coronavirus.

My doctor put in a prescription for just that reason, but since I wasn’t due for a refill, my in-network pharmacy said my insurance company wouldn’t pay for it. It said the pharmacy’s hands were tied by the insurance company’s rules. The pharmacy, however, would fill the prescription at full cost which, fortunately, I could afford.

But for those who can’t afford it and who could become quarantined and isolated, they may have to choose between going out and possibly infecting others, or forgoing their medications. Between prescription limitations and the need to stay in-network, the person who is trying to self-isolate, and can’t afford to pay full cost, is in trouble (as are we all if they have to break their quarantine).

One solution might be a six-month moratorium on insurance companys’ limited prescription rules, especially for those medicines, like mine, that aren’t easily abused and are life savers.

Patients are getting mixed messages: Experts advise us to stock up, but insurance companies are unwilling to pay for this precautionary measure, even for drugs which aren’t easily abused.

I’ve called my state and federal representatives, but it seems like the log-jam of issues in front of Congress may keep this “front-burner issue” from being addressed in time to help people who need to stockpile their critical medications. A month from now may be too late. This may become just another pandemic issue that could have been avoided with better planning.

Chris Coucill
Constitution Hill West