Statement by Sung Poblete, PhD, RN and CEO of FARE, regarding UnitedHealthcare’s elimination of out-of-pocket costs for several life-saving drugs including epinephrine

“Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) commends UnitedHealthcare for taking the industry lead in reducing healthcare costs for their members by covering the cost of certain necessary drugs such as insulin and other emergency use medications including epinephrine. Epinephrine is a life-saving drug for more than 32 million Americans who have life threatening food allergies.

“Elimination of out-of-pocket costs for these necessary prescription drugs removes a significant barrier to access and treatment for the food allergic. This action will aide those individuals who struggle to afford the medical costs associated with having a severe food allergy by allowing greater access to care and medications for those consumers and helping decrease the risk of hospitalization from an allergic reaction. 

“We are greatly encouraged by UnitedHealthcare’s elimination of high medication costs to the food allergy consumer for prescribed epinephrine. Breaking the barrier to access for this vital medication can be the difference between life and death. It is our hope that other health insurance companies follow UnitedHealthcare’s lead in allowing greater access to these essential medications.”