Which IBD medications are usually covered by your insurer?
Select an insurer, medication, and condition to see typical commercial coverage, prior authorization, and step therapy requirements, all based on publicly available formulary policies.
Yes, with hurdles: Aetna typically requires prior auth and step therapy for Omvoh
Aetna plans generally cover Omvoh (mirikizumab) for ulcerative colitis only after trying a preferred alternative first. Your GI's office can request an exception if step therapy isn't clinically appropriate for you.
- Prior authorization
Required
Prescriber submits clinical documentation; decision times vary by plan, urgency, and how complete the submission is.
- Step therapy
Fail-first required
Typically must try Entyvio (vedolizumab); Skyrizi (risankizumab); Pyzchiva or Stelara (ustekinumab); Tremfya (guselkumab); one infliximab biosimilar (Avsola, Inflectra, or Renflexis) first, unless contraindicated.
- Typical placement
Positioned behind lower-cost alternatives
medical-benefit policy CPB 1048; not a pharmacy cost-share tier
- Line of business:
- Commercial
- Reauthorization:
- Continuation requires documented benefit; CPB 1048 does not state a universal 12-month duration
- PA criteria:
- Moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis; prescribed by or in consultation with a gastroenterologist; precertification required under CPB 1048. Continuation requires objective or symptomatic improvement.
- Exception path:
- Documented inadequate response (generally after an adequate one-month trial), intolerance, or contraindication to all listed alternatives / medical-necessity exception
- Scope:
- Aetna commercial medical-benefit CPB 1048 for IV induction; SC maintenance and pharmacy formulary rules are separate.
The access landscape for ulcerative colitis
How restrictive each major insurer's standard commercial formulary is, per medication. Select any cell to see the details above.
- Prior auth
- PA + step therapy
- Brand excluded / off formulary
- Varies by local plan
Standard commercial policies; last reviewed Jul 2026. Coverage depends on your exact plan, employer group, state, and whether the drug is infused (medical benefit) or self-injected (pharmacy benefit). Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage is set by independent local Blue companies, and Kaiser Permanente details reflect Kaiser Northwest policy documents. This tool summarizes publicly available policies and is for informational purposes only. Your individual plan may differ from the public documents cited here. It is not medical or insurance advice. Your selections are not saved or sent to a server; they live only in your browser and this page's web address, so you can bookmark or share a result.