Insurers Reject Coverage for Alzheimer's Drug, Including Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the largest health insurance company in Arkansas, has decided not to cover the Alzheimer's drug Leqembi, citing insufficient evidence of its effectiveness and concerns about its risks. The health plans covering state and public school employees in Arkansas have also opted not to cover the drug. Leqembi, the first drug approved by the FDA to slow the progression of Alzheimer's, comes with a high price tag of $26,500 per year, plus additional costs for administration. Other insurers, including Medicare, the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, and Arkansas' Medicaid program, will cover the drug.