How Blue Cross Helps Members Save Thousands A Month with Biosimilars
Blue Daily
| 3 min read
Key Takeaways
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan saved $80 million in 2025 by providing members biosimilar alternatives that cost 90% less than the reference biologic.
- The health insurance company is expanding access to biosimilar medications to help reduce prescription drug costs, which are rising three times faster than the rate of inflation.
- Blue Cross is working with physicians to ensure members get the health care and support they need to stay healthy, and the company is continuing to expand its biosimilar program to help more members save money on their medications.
Prescription drug costs are one of the fastest-growing drivers of health care spending. Prices are rising three times faster than the rate of inflation, and these prices are putting pressure on the entire health care system. To change the trajectory of those costs, the health care system must do things differently. One solution Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is using to improve affordability is expanding access to biosimilar medications.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan saved $80 million in 2025 by providing members biosimilar alternatives that cost 90% less than the reference biologic. This strategy has helped Blue Cross reduce its total prescription drug cost increases to 2.6% in 2025.
By helping members switch to lower cost biosimilars, Blue Cross reduced pharmacy spending and helped save members and employers millions of dollars, while maintaining the same quality and effectiveness of care.
Saving 90% with biosimilars
Biologics are highly complex medications made from living cells or their components. They are used to treat autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. These specialty drugs are expensive, making up 5% of prescriptions filled in the United States, but accounting for 51% of total drug spending.
Did you know the list price of Humira® is $10,400 per month? Humira is used to treat autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Stelara®, another biologic that treats psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is listed at $25,000 for a two-month dose.
Biosimilars are essentially “generic versions” of biologics that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and they offer the same safety and effectiveness as the reference product.
In 2024, Blue Cross members and employer groups saved a total of $67 million by using biosimilars. In 2025, Blue Cross partnered with Evio Pharmacy Solutions, an independent company, to expand our biosimilars program: members taking Humira® were transitioned to the biosimilar Simlandi®, and members taking Stelara® were switched to the biosimilar Yesintek™. This partnership with Evio Pharmacy Solutions saved members more than 90% of the list price of biologics, and Blue Cross saved $80 million as a result.
Blue Cross has saved nearly $150 million in two years by switching members to biosimilars, which helps us in in our commitment to keep health care more affordable for everyone.
Nearly 100% of Blue Cross members who were previously taking an expensive biologic are now taking an approved biosimilar, and many receive support through our Exclusive Specialty Network with Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, which provides:
- Support in getting set up with the program, including transferring other prescriptions
- Home delivery for specialty medications
- A team of pharmacy specialists who provide multiple care management programs to help members take their medications as prescribed and to control any side effects
- 24/7 access to pharmacists and nurses for questions
Working with providers
Blue Cross is working with physicians to ensure members get the health care and support they need to stay healthy. Prior to each expansion of our biosimilars program, Blue Cross communicates upcoming changes to our provider network to make sure they can plan accordingly. Blue Cross uses a variety of methods to get this information to the provider practices such as letters, publications, presentations, outreach to physician offices and collaborative meetings.
Our providers are crucial to the success of these biosimilar initiatives, helping to switch members to these lower cost alternatives which saves money and improves affordability.
The future of biosimilars
Blue Cross is continuing to expand the biosimilar program this year. As of Jan. 1, nearly all Blue Cross members who take biologics will start on biosimilars, offering them immediate savings on these drugs and support to manage them. We are also working to introduce new biosimilars this year.
Learn more about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's commitment to affordability here.
Image: Getty Images
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