One of the more confusing aspects of Utah medical cannabis among new patients is how medicines are paid for. We normally associate prescription medications with health insurance coverage. Unfortunately, medical cannabis is in a league all its own in this regard.
Below is a description of what you can expect in terms of insurance and payments. If you ever have questions about paying for your medicines at our Brigham City or Salt Lake City locations, do not be afraid to ask one of our team members.
Little to No Insurance Coverage
For starters, there is little to no insurance coverage for medical cannabis and its associated services in Utah. In fact, that’s true throughout the country. We say ‘little to none’ because there has been a trend among some regional, but very small, insurance carriers offering to cover medical consultations. We cannot make any specific recommendations because we don’t know if any of them even operate in Utah.
The general rule is that patients pay for both medical consultations and their medicines out of pocket. They also cover the costs of obtaining a new medical cannabis card and renewing every year thereafter. It can all add up for sure, but the lack of insurance coverage is a reality patients just have to live with.
If Cannabis Is Rescheduled
There is a glimmer of hope for patients in the possibility of cannabis being rescheduled by the federal government. We have been waiting for rescheduling since last year. It still hasn’t happened. Will it? Only time will tell. But if Washington does follow through with the plan, it is possible we could see some insurance carriers stepping up.
Payments at the Pharmacy
When you purchase medical cannabis products at a state-licensed pharmacy, expect to be charged a product transaction fee. Beginning in July 2025, the transaction fee was set by the state at $1.50. The fee is added to the retail cost of the products you purchase.
The other side of the coin is that medical cannabis products are not subject to state sales tax. So where you might pay sales tax on just about every purchase made at the department store, you won’t pay it here at Beehive Farmacy. Given how much some patients spend on a monthly basis, not having to pay sales tax is a big help.
Payments Made in Cash
Whether you place an online order or wait until you reach the pharmacy to decide what you want, plan to pay for your purchase in cash. Medical cannabis is still largely a cash-and-carry business in Utah despite the state approving a debit card workaround last year.
If you are curious as to why pharmacies are reluctant to accept debit and credit cards, it’s a banking issue. Medical cannabis pharmacies struggle to access typical banking services because of federal regulations. Operating on a cash-only basis is the easiest way for us to serve patients and avoid compliance issues.
A Word About Medical Cannabis Cards
A quick word about medical cannabis cards is in order before we close this post. You must have a valid card in order to purchase products at either Beehive Farmacy location. We require that you to bring a physical copy with you. If you don’t have one, we can look up your card in the EVS, then print and laminate a copy for you to carry.
A lack of insurance coverage is not ideal for medical cannabis patients. And for some, not being able to pay with plastic is an inconvenience. But let’s make the best of it until things change.
