Insurers Ready to Cover Covid Drug; What Patients Pay Will Vary

Health insurers are likely to cover the Covid-19 treatment drug remdesivir, but prices paid by patients will vary based on their coverage.

The drug, the first approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat the coronavirus, is given to patients in hospitals to help them recover more quickly. Representatives for both UnitedHealthcare and Anthem said Friday that the leading insurers are covering remdesivir and are waiving—at least for the time being—cost-sharing such as copays and deductibles.

Out-of-pocket costs are always a major issue with health insurance, and Gilead Sciences Inc.'s $3,120 price to hospitals has drawn criticism ...