When will health insurance cover medical cannabis?

The provision of medical treatment for Cannabis is still a distant dream in the United States.

But in some states, medical cannabis patients may be reimbursed for doctor visits, cannabis products and other MMJ-related services through ackaround, one advocacy group said this week.

Participants in the recently announced program called the highest regimes can receive up to $ 175 per month in reimbursement of cannabis and related doctor’s visits, the CEO of OM2P2, a digital health platform.

The potential cost of treating cannabis pets comes at the same time as further increases in overall health care costs have been unleashed by a squabble in Washington over ObamaCare funding.

“Insurance is going to skyrocket this year and next, and these plans are very competitive,” Luce said.

Major insurers such as Cigna, Detego Health and Evita Health offer coverage in some of their health packages in the 38 states where medical marijuana is legal, according to the program.

Doug Benns, an advisory member of ACTM’s Executive Committee, estimates that 15 insurance companies will be part of the program during open enrollment beginning November 1.

The reimbursement will cover various MMJ-related services, he said.

“Some will pay for doctor’s visits, some will pay for media expenses, some for both,” the Benns said Mjbizdaily.

Not insurance coverage for medical cannabis

Despite Marivil Marijuana’s acceptance in the United States – and court rulings that have sought to include cannabis in workers’ compensation benefits – the Federal Cannabis Prohibition of Federalis

That is due to the difficulty of cannabis patients seeking any kind of help from their insurance providers.

The belief that insurance will cover medical marijuana will generate buzz. But for Step Sherer, founder and President of MMJ Mated Advocacy Group America’s safe access, the reality doesn’t match the hype.

While some companies talk about reimbursement benefits and employee benefits, there is no real insurance company that covers cannabis right now.

What’s marketed as “coverage” often boils down to employee discount programs, such as exercise discounts or acupuncture discounts, Sherer said.

These programs can offer patients and reduced costs to medical or cannabis specialists, but they are far from the full loan many hope for, he added.

Workers’ compensation systems in several states have curative reimbursement models, but they are not widely practiced.

How Health Can Revitalize the Medical Cannabis Market

Still, any refunds for MMJ patients are expected to provide a much-needed shot in the arm to the medical marijuana industry.

The number of medical Marijuana patients on average decreases by about one-third after the start of the market, according to data from the Washington, DC-based rabbit association of Washington, DC.

“This will add more power to medical cannabis to have more insurance companies, with a brand offering this offer,” said EM2P2’s Luce.

One Medical Marijuana provider signed on to the ACCM / EM2P2 platform – called Canalnx – is Kolas, which operates six retail stores serving both MMJ patients and recreational customers in Sacramento, California.

Medical Marijuana patients account for about 5% of Kolas’ customers, said Kevin McCarty, the company’s director of compliance.

McCarty projects the number of MMJ patients will increase by about 5% when they can get the products back.

“It will be a great opportunity,” he said.

“With the economy struggling and people being financially strapped, being able to get reimbursed for medical cannabis … could be a game changer.”

What About Marijuana Rescheduling?

One of the biggest challenges in real insurance is cannabis insurance is prohibited.

Without clear rules and measurable standards for patient doctor – patient relationships – insurance companies are reluctant to step in.

The status of Cannabis’ has reduced cannabis under Federal law, as President Donald Trump has promised to consider, which can help break the logjam in Washington to block the reform of the broad marijuana.

By legalizing marijuana as a medicine, like the cannabis move to schedule 3 of the Controlled Measures Act

That in turn could pave the way for independent motivators to follow. But for now, the practical options are limited.

“There’s a lot of people talking about what insurance looks like, but the only place it’s happening is in a few cases of Comp reimbursements,” Sherer said.

While Sherer hopes to see insurance coverage for cannabis in the future, he remains skeptical that existing players in the market will pull out.

For now, he said, the focus should remain on integrating cannabis into the broader health system and ensuring that patients – not just businesses – benefit from any progress made.

“People don’t ask, ‘What about the patients?'” Sherer said.

“But that’s why the patients are here – all these businesses are a distraction to the patients.”

The combination of real and true Marijuana can save lives, slash costs

ACCM and EM2P2’s announcement of increased efforts comes a few weeks after Trump sent a video produced by the CommoWealth Project, another MMJ Advocacy organization, on the truth of the social court.

This video highlighted the endoncaninoid system and the potential benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) for Selive Healthcare and suggested that the health system of the US Health will keep $ 64 billion in Cannabis fully integrated into the health system.

Not only does it cover the cost of Medical Marijuana Save Money for the Health System, but it will also save the lives of at least 50,000 patients a year prescribed by the doctor, said Dr. Mikhail Kogan of the GW Center for Integrative Medicine in Washington, DC

Kogen points to the CBD drug Epidiolex, a cannabis-grade cannabis product used to treat addiction that costs $30,000 a year. Insurance covers epidiolex for 97% of patients with Dravet Syndrom and TSC.

In contrast, high-quality CBD from reputable distributors can cost as little as $300 per year.

“Even if I’m out tenfold and it’s $3,000, it’s still tenfold,” Kogan said.

The steep costs make medical marijuana unaffordable for many sick people on medicaid and prescriptions, despite its potential to replace expensive and dangerous drugs.

“We can leave the infrastructure the way it is and put the burden on the patients, but we will have more deaths every year,” said Kogan.

Margaret Jackson can be reached Margaret.Jackson@mjbizdaily.com.