U.S. Health Insurance Coverage for Medical Cannabis Still a Distant Reality
Healthcare coverage for cannabis treatments remains elusive in the United States, but a new reimbursement initiative may offer limited relief for medical marijuana (MMJ) patients in some states.
A Partial Solution: The “Elevated States” Program
This week, advocacy group American Council of Cannabis Medicine (ACCM) announced a new reimbursement model known as Elevated States, allowing participants to receive up to $175 per month for cannabis-related doctor visits and MMJ purchases.
The program is powered by EM2P2, a digital healthcare platform led by CEO Gennaro Luce, who says the plan could help patients offset costs as healthcare prices surge nationwide.
Major insurers such as Cigna, Detego Health, and Envita Health are reportedly including this benefit in select packages across the 38 states where medical marijuana is legal. According to ACCM executive committee member Doug Benns, around 15 insurers are expected to participate by November 1, the start of open enrollment.
Still Not True Insurance Coverage
Despite these developments, experts emphasize that this is not genuine health insurance coverage for cannabis.
Steph Sherer, president of Americans for Safe Access, cautioned that many of these programs resemble employee benefit discounts rather than formal insurance coverage.
These programs may reduce costs for patients but fall short of offering the comprehensive protection patients expect.
A Boost for the Medical Cannabis Market
Even limited reimbursement could help revitalize the medical cannabis sector, which typically loses one-third of its patient base after a state launches recreational sales, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.
Luce believes the participation of well-known insurance brands could legitimize medical cannabis and attract more patients.
Kolas, a California-based MMJ and adult-use retailer, is among the first dispensaries to join the ACCM/EM2P2 network. The company projects a 5% increase in MMJ patients once reimbursements become available.
The Federal Roadblock
Federal cannabis prohibition remains the largest barrier to full insurance coverage. Without a change to federal law, most insurers are reluctant to touch cannabis-related claims.
Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act,aa a move the federal government has recently considered could lay the groundwork for future insurance inclusion through Medicaid or the Veterans Health Administration, potentially encouraging private insurers to follow.
The Broader Picture: Costs and Lives
The ACCM and EM2P2 announcement follows renewed advocacy for medical cannabis integration into healthcare, amplified by a video shared by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.
The Commonwealth Project video estimated that full cannabis integration could save the U.S. healthcare system $64 billion annually.
Dr. Mikhail Kogan of the GW Center for Integrative Medicine argues that true medical cannabis coverage could also save tens of thousands of lives each year by reducing reliance on prescription drugs.
Kogan highlights the disparity between the FDA-approved cannabis drug Epidiolex, which costs $30,000 annually (mostly covered by insurance), and comparable CBD therapies that can cost as little as $300 per year.
The Path Forward
For now, cannabis reimbursement programs like Elevated States offer a small but meaningful step toward integrating cannabis into mainstream healthcare.
Still, patient advocates urge policymakers and insurers to keep the focus where it belongs on patients.
OG source Download Article 
