罕见病商保面临三大难题，谁来给千万患者发“入场券”丨“病有所保”大调研

Core Insights - The commercial health insurance market faces challenges in covering rare disease patients, as the inclusion of this group increases the "outflow" of claims, necessitating a corresponding increase in "inflow" through premium collection [1][3] - The National Healthcare Security Administration reported that there are approximately 100 rare disease drugs in the national medical insurance catalog, with a projected payment of 8.6 billion yuan for these drugs in 2024, representing 7.7% of total drug payments during the agreement period [1][2] - Despite the growing number of rare disease treatments, insurance companies remain cautious in underwriting these patients due to the inherent risks associated with genetic and hereditary conditions [3][4] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Approximately 40 new drugs submitted for commercial insurance in the second half of the year include around half for rare diseases [2] - The commercial health insurance market is evolving, with some insurers beginning to relax underwriting restrictions for pre-existing conditions, yet they still exhibit caution towards rare disease coverage [2][5] - The market for rare disease insurance is limited due to the small patient base and the high variability in treatment costs and risks associated with different rare diseases [4][5] Group 2: Challenges in Coverage - The insurance industry faces "three difficulties" in covering rare diseases: the hereditary nature of many conditions, the predominance of outpatient treatment, and the high costs of self-funded medications [2][4] - Many insurance policies exclude congenital diseases, leading to a lack of coverage for a significant portion of rare disease patients [4][5] - The lack of precise actuarial data on rare diseases complicates risk assessment and pricing for insurers, leading to higher premiums and conservative coverage terms [4][5] Group 3: Patient Experience - Patients with rare diseases often find that even when insurance products are available, the coverage is inadequate, with many facing high out-of-pocket expenses due to high deductibles and limited reimbursement for outpatient treatments [8][9] - A significant drop in reimbursement rates for pre-existing conditions has been reported, with some patients experiencing a reduction from 75% to 20% in coverage [9][10] - The market for rare disease insurance products is hindered by the perception of high risk and the potential for adverse selection, making it difficult for insurers to sustain profitable operations [5][10] Group 4: Regulatory and Market Trends - The integration of commercial insurance with basic medical insurance is seen as a potential solution to enhance coverage for rare diseases, with initiatives like the "dual catalog" negotiations for innovative drugs [10][11] - The lack of a specific rare disease drug catalog from the government has led to confusion and delays in the approval of treatments for rare diseases [11] - The disparity in coverage across different regions and the challenges in accessing outpatient medications remain significant barriers for patients [10][11]