Drugs- A Contributing Factor for Rise In Health Insurance Claims

According to research Canadians spent about $22.5 billion on pharmaceutical drugs last year. By 2010, growth of specialty medications is expected to contribute to overall drug spending by 25% to $28 billion.

The highest volume of drug claims by treatment in Canada which includes top 10 heath conditions are:

(1)High Blood Pressure which contribute to 12.8% of total claims.
(2)Depression which contributed to 7% of total claims.
(3)The diseases related to antibiotics & anti-infective were around 7.19%.
(4)Pain & narcotic drugs contributed to around 5.13%.
(5)High cholesterol contributed to 4.98% of claims.
(6)Asthma, ulcers, non-steroidal drugs contribute to around 23% of claims.

The drugs which were prescribed for these claimed health conditions include:

Remicade which is being used in arthritis, ulcerative colitis costs to $27,800 to $35,000 per patient. The second most important drug includes Advair used to cure asthma costed $960 to $1,635. Also Nexium. Liptor, Crestor used to cur high cholesterol and stomach ulcers contribute to around $650 to $850 per patient. These are just some of drugs there have been various drugs that are high costing which have been taken from low to high age groups contributing maximum to increase up health insurance.

The claimants for health diseases spend around $5000 per year on drugs which contributed to 23.7% of total drug claim costs. Also 38% of the people had one or more of the health issues which include:

• Cardiac disease which includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol
• Mental health issue which includes depression, attention deficit disorder
• Diabetes

The 38% of people use prescription drugs on an ongoing basis so represent around 76.2% of overall prescription drug spending.

On seeing such research studies it proves that effective claim costs control would focus on improving member wellness and would help in disease management programs.

Such studies also prove that drugs specially prescription drugs play and contribute maximum to increase in health insurance claim costs.