What We're Reading: Long-Term Disability; Calif. Drug Price Transparency; Birth Control Lawsuits

Disability Coverage Should Get More Attention

Few people actually get disability insurance, although it can pay off in the long run. According to Kaiser Health News, while 65% of those surveyed believe most people need disability insurance, only 20% actually have it. Disability insurance is a safety-net benefit that would pay 50% to 60% of income when an employee is unable to work; some employers make automatic deductions available because coverage is in the best interest of both the employees and the company.

California Will Require Advance Notice of Drug Price Hikes

A new bill signed into law in California will require drug makers to give notice before increasing the prices of certain drugs. Starting January 1, 2019, companies will have to give 60-day notice if the list price of a drug is being increased more than 16% in 2 years, reported The Wall Street Journal. The law had bipartisan support and was signed into law on Monday. It only applies to drugs where the wholesale price for a 30-day supply is more than $40.

Three States Suing Over Birth Control Rollback

Washington state is the latest to sue the Trump administration over the decision to expand exemptions for employers to opt out of covering birth control. The state joins Massachusetts and California, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, according to The New York Times. Washington’s state attorney general claims the new rule violates the First Amendment and the Fifth Amendment, and that it could affect more than 1.5 million Washingtonians.