Here in the United States, health insurance is supposed to protect patients from the financial burden of expensive medical treatments. But all too often, it falls short—especially for those who rely on costly prescription medications. Now, a new trend is making things even harder. Third-party vendors are pushing what's called 'alternative funding programs,' and they're specifically targeting high-cost specialty drugs. If these programs continue to spread unchecked, they could cause real harm—leaving patients even more vulnerable, straining the healthcare system, and further complicating an already broken drug pricing market. It's a serious issue that needs attention.