UnitedHealth Cuts Co-Pay on Asthma Inhaler

U.S. health insurance giant UnitedHealthcare said Friday it has cut the co-payment for certain asthma inhalers due to high cost and short supply.

The insurer said its pharmacy benefit manager UnitedHealth Pharmaceutical Solutions has reclassified its chlorofluorocarbon-free, asthma inhaler Xopenex to its lowest co-pay tier, meaning plan members will pay between $5 and $10 for the prescription treatment.

CFC-free inhalers are gradually replacing CFC-containing albuterol inhalers, due to CFCs’ environmental risks, but the CFC-free products cost more, and there are only a handful currently sold, UnitedHealth said.

The supply shortage of both generic and brand-name CFC-free inhalers is expected to increase until the complete phase-out deadline of Dec. 31, 2008, the company said.

Asthma patients have relied on albuterol inhalers for years because they provide quick and effective relief of asthma symptoms. However, because of the higher cost for the new brand-name CFC-free inhalers, some patients may avoid continued treatment, which would place their health at serious risk, said Tim Heady, CEO of UnitedHealth Pharmaceutical Solutions.