Physician Says Insurance Coverage for Medical Cannabis Is “Logical, Ethical and Necessary” as Chronic Pain and Dementia Costs Surge
A growing number of physicians are calling for insurance companies to cover medical cannabis, arguing that the plant offers a safer, more effective alternative to many costly and dangerous prescription medications and could significantly reduce the financial strain on Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers.
One such physician, who has spent decades treating patients with chronic pain, dementia and other debilitating conditions, says cannabis coverage is “not a radical idea,” but rather the next logical step in modern healthcare.
Patients Forced to Choose Between Basic Needs and Medicine
Although millions of Americans now rely on medical cannabis to manage pain, neurological conditions and treatment side effects, insurance companies continue to refuse coverage. As a result, many patients must decide between paying for rent, groceries or essential medicine.
“Every day, I watch patients agonize over whether they can afford the treatment that actually works for them,” the physician said. “No one should have to go into debt for safer medicine.”
While insurers routinely cover pharmaceuticals with high overdose and dependency risks, they exclude cannabis entirely — even where it is legal and medically recommended.
Two Growing Epidemics: Chronic Pain and Dementia Burdening the U.S. Healthcare System
Chronic pain and dementia now account for a massive portion of national healthcare expenditures, particularly through Medicare and Medicaid. Both conditions often lead to repeated hospital visits, emergency care and complex medication regimens.
At the same time, these conditions commonly push patients toward opioids, benzodiazepines and other drugs that drive the national overdose crisis.
Cannabis, physicians argue, could help reverse those trends.
Cannabis as an “Exit Strategy” From Opioids
A growing body of research shows that patients who replace opioids with cannabis experience 30 to 50 percent reductions in opioid use and many stop opioids altogether.
Unlike opioids and sedatives, cannabis has no recorded overdose deaths.
Public health experts estimate that broader adoption of medical cannabis as an alternative pain therapy could save up to 50,000 lives each year.
For dementia patients, cannabis has shown significant benefits as well, including improved sleep, appetite, mood and reductions in agitation often allowing patients to eliminate medications with severe side effects.
Claims That Cannabis “Lacks Data” Are No Longer Accurate
Opponents frequently cite insufficient research as the reason for insurance exclusion. But experts say those claims are outdated and no longer supported by modern evidence.
A landmark 2017 review from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concluded that cannabis is an evidence-based treatment for chronic pain, multiple sclerosis symptoms and chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Since then, international research from Israel, Canada and Europe has expanded significantly, documenting measurable patient benefits and cost savings.
Patient-reported outcomes have also grown into a robust data source, capturing improvements in daily functioning, sleep, mood and quality of life — evidence often missed in traditional clinical trials.
Existing Healthcare Models Show Cannabis Coverage Is Feasible
The physician noted that insurance systems already cover broad-spectrum palliative care programs. For example, U.S. hospice providers receive per-diem Medicare payments that cover all necessary treatments for comfort, without billing each therapy individually.
“Cannabis fits naturally into existing care models,” the physician explained. “There’s no structural reason insurers can’t cover it.”
Critics Focus on Recreational Use, Not Medical Reality
Some opponents assert that cannabis coverage would encourage misuse or unsafe consumption. But physicians emphasize that these critiques stem from recreational markets, not medically directed cannabis therapy.
Patients typically use carefully dosed tinctures, capsules or vaporized formulations — not the high-potency products sold in recreational dispensaries.
Meanwhile, insurance companies routinely cover medications with far higher risks of addiction, overdose and adverse reactions.
Coverage Would Save Insurers Money, Not Increase Costs
A major misconception is that covering cannabis would increase healthcare spending. Physicians counter that the opposite is true.
By reducing reliance on costly pharmaceuticals and preventing unnecessary emergency department visits, imaging, physician appointments and drug interaction complications, insurers could save substantial amounts of money.
“Insurance companies are already paying for the consequences of poorly managed chronic pain and dementia,” the physician said. “Covering cannabis is in their financial interest.”
Public Support Is Strong, but Political Will Is Lacking
Nearly 75 percent of U.S. adults now live in states with legal medical or adult-use cannabis access. Polling consistently shows strong bipartisan support for medical cannabis expansion.
“We know cannabis works for many patients. We know it’s safer than most alternatives. The public is ready,” the physician said. “What’s missing is political will and insurance industry leadership.”
“It’s Ethical. It’s Necessary. And It Will Save Lives.”
Despite the growing evidence, insurance companies continue to exclude cannabis coverage, leaving millions of patients without affordable access to a treatment that could reduce harm and save lives.
Topic(s):
OG source Download Article 
