Ivermectin for COVID Costs Insurers Millions Despite Lack of Clinical Evidence

Insurers have paid millions of dollars to cover the cost of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment even though there is no evidence that it’s actually effective against the disease, according to a new JAMA study. By analyzing claims from December 2020 through March 2021, the researchers found that patients with private insurance spent, on average, $22.48 per ivermectin prescription with insurers reimbursing an average of $35.75, for a total cost of $58.23. Patients with Medicare Advantage spent an average of $13.78, while their health plans reimbursed $39.13, for a total average cost of $52.91 per script. The study also estimated that health plans paid $2.5 million for COVID-related ivermectin prescriptions just in the week of Aug. 13, 2021; extrapolating that over the course of a year, such spending could add up to $129.7 million.

NOTES: HMO refers to health maintenance organization. PPO refers to preferred provider organization. POS refers to point of service. “Total spending per prescription” is defined as the sum of insurer reimbursement and out-of-pocket spending.

SOURCE: “US Insurer Spending on Ivermectin Prescriptions for COVID-19,” JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.24352.

From Radar on Drug Benefits