Cheers Does Research: Will Health Insurance Ever Cover Medical Marijuana?

Possible Health Benefits of THC

Marijuana is a mind-altering drug that most people associate with abuse and back alley dealings of inner cities. New science however is studying one specific element found in marijuana called THC. THC is the chemical responsible for binding to the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. This reaction with the brain’s receptors creates the high and euphoria associated with doing marijuana. However, the news is not all bad. New studies have shown health benefits from the THC on multiple health conditions. One study by the Institute of Medicine found that cannabinoid drugs, such as THC, have been proven be effective in treatment for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and increased appetite. It has also shown to help those experiencing a neurodegenerative disease, such as Multiple Sclerosis by helping to relax muscle stiffness. In support of this research the medical community is pushing the use of medical marijuana.

Although more and more people are being prescribed medical marijuana to treat their ailments, insurance companies will still not pay for it. It must be paid for out of pocket.

Insurance Coverage for Medical Marijuana

Costs for medical marijuana can be as high as 1,000 a month experts say. However, people looking for medical marijuana relief have to pay out of pocket because it’s not currently covered by insurance. There are several reasons why insurance companies do not cover medical marijuana. A number of government bureaucracies will need to work together to change this, and two key things must happen before insurance companies will consider coverage:

The Drug Must be Approved by the FDA

It’s not easy to get a drug approved by the Food and Drug Association (FDA). In order for the FDA to approve a drug a number of things have to happen first. One, research has to be done to ascertain the effectiveness and side effects of use. However, permission from the Drug Enforcement Association(DEA) must be obtained in order to be able to perform the research; which can be a complex process. Once done, the researchers would also need to get a variety of strands of the drug from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). At that point, the problem is that NIDA only grows a couple strands of marijuana, making it difficult to have conclusive research on all side effects or benefits.

The Federal Government Must Remove Schedule 1 Categorization

On the Federal level though Marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug; which means that it has “no accepted medical use and could be addictive.” Because of this, the government takes extra precautions to studying it.

Politics of Medical Marijuana Legislation Another Hurdle

Marijuana, in general, has been a political minefield for people in government and healthcare. The balance between maintaining restrictions and exploring medical potential has been difficult to find. Between advocates and opponents of the drug, there continues to be ongoing discussions on the state government level of it’s legality. Twenty-three states have legalized the drug for medical use, and that’s only the beginning. This may continue to change as more studies are likely to come out about the drug’s effectiveness in treatment.

The Future of Coverage for Medical Marijuana

Much remains to be seen on what happens next for people looking for help on medical marijuana treatment costs. For any financial help to come through from insurance companies, FDA approval, drug classification change, and a shift in political opinion must happen.e

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