Support the Help Ensure Lower Patient (HELP) Copays Act (S. 1375) 

The Help Ensure Lower Patient (HELP) Copays Act would prohibit the use of harmful copay accumulator adjuster programs. 

Copay accumulator adjuster programs are used by private insurance plans to prevent copay assistance from counting towards a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Many people with serious diseases can't afford their medication without copay assistance. These copay accumulator programs prevent patients from getting the care and treatment they need.  

While a recent court ruling mandated that health plans must count copay assistance towards one's deductible and annual cost-sharing limits, there has been minimal enforcement by the federal government. We need your help to ensure that patients receive the relief they deserve. 

This bill was first introduced by Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Nanette Barragán (D-CA) in February 2023, with a companion bill introduced by Senator Rodger Marshall (R-KS) in April. More than a year later, we are ready for Congress to act! 

Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support the HELP Copays Act, a bipartisan bill that provides a two-part solution to combat the continued use of copay accumulator adjustment programs: 

• Updating the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) definition of cost-sharing to require that all out-of-pocket payments made by or on behalf of a patient count toward the patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket limit. This would end copay accumulator programs in marketplace exchange insurance plans. 
• Stipulating that any item or service covered by an employer health plan is part of the essential health benefits (EHB) package and therefore the plan must count any cost sharing towards a person's annual limit. This would end the ACA’s EHB loophole that allows plans to deem certain categories of drugs as non-essential. 

Together, let’s make our voices heard and ensure access to affordable healthcare for all. 

Increase your impact  
If you’ve already emailed your elected officials through our easy-to-use form, there are two more steps you can take to help amplify our message.  

1. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Use this template to get started.
2. Write a letter to your elected officials and ask them to hold a town hall meeting to discuss the HELP Copays Act. Use this template to get started. 
    

Writing letters can help increase awareness about this important bill and encourage your representatives to take action. Thank you for your support!