Medicare Plans Releases Survey Results Regarding Medical Cannabis Coverage

Recently, Medicare Plans, a patient support center that helps provide resources for understanding Medicare, conducted a survey of current Medicare recipients on their opinions of Medicare coverage for medical cannabis treatment and products (1). The survey was conducted online with 1250 Americans ages 65 and over surveyed. It covered topics such as past and current cannabis use, political affiliations, and how much patients spent on cannabis products per month. Medicare Plans released their survey results this month.

Some of the most prominent findings, according to Medicare Plans, included:

• 1 in 5 Medicare recipients currently use medical cannabis
• 23% have used medical cannabis in the past
• 66% of Medicare recipients “strongly agree” or “agree” that Medicare should cover medical cannabis
• 59% of those who support Medicare coverage for medical cannabis say it's because it can be effective where other treatments fail
• 38% of Medicare recipients who use medical cannabis do not want Medicare coverage because they fear it will increase the price

Medicare Plans pointed out that currently the use of medical cannabis is legal in 37 states, four territories, and the District of Columbia. However, because cannabis is both illegal at the federal level and, in most cases, not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), health insurance does not pay for it. Medicare Plans also noted that with the recent passing of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in the House of Representatives, the question of whether insurance should cover medical cannabis may soon need to be addressed.

To see the survey results in detail, please visit: https://www.medicareplans.com/1-in-5-medicare-recipients-use-medical-marijuana/

References

1. https://www.medicareplans.com/1-in-5-medicare-recipients-use-medical-marijuana/