Medical marijuana expenses to be covered by insurance in New Jersey under new bill

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The Garden State is giving medical marijuana patients the credit they deserve with new legislation

Employment insurance benefits would cover the costs of medical marijuana in New Jersey under a bill approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee in a 7-4 vote on Monday. Medical cannabis has been legal in New Jersey since 2010, but the cost of the medication is not covered by workers’ compensation or personal injury protection (PIP).

“Many workers’ compensation insurance companies and PIPs are still hesitant to cover medical cannabis or have an outright policy of denying it,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “People injured and receiving coverage through PIP or worker’s comp can come away from a doctor’s appointment with a prescription for medical marijuana; however, it is not definite that their healthcare plan will cover it or reimburse them for the costs.”

The statement continues, “The dispensing of medical cannabis is, in part, considered an important piece in the national effort to combat the opioid crisis. Medical cannabis is seen as an effective pain treatment option that is cheaper, less addictive than opioids, and often preferred to prescribe to patients over opioids. A patient and their doctor should have every option available to make the best decisions for their care; and medical cannabis as an option growing in demand, health insurance plans—including worker’s comp and PIP—should cover its costs too.”

The proposed bill state, “an employer or workers’ compensation insurance carrier or private passenger automobile insurance carrier shall provide coverage for costs associated with the medical use of marijuana.” New Jersey will vote on a referendum to legalize cannabis for adult use on the ballot this November, and Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has asked people to “VOTE YES when you see State Public Question Number 1: Constitutional Amendment to Legalize Marijuana.”