Do Drug Benefits Help Medicare Beneficiaries Afford Prescribed Drugs?
Open Access
- 1 July 2004
- journal article
- Published by Health Affairs (Project Hope) in Health Affairs
- Vol. 23 (4) , 213-222
- https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.23.4.213
Abstract
We surveyed a random sample of 1,500 elderly people with chronic diseases who were enrolled in eight Medicare+Choice plans with a zero-premium, $200–$300 annual drug benefit and no deductible. An estimated 32 percent did not fill a prescription or reduced a prescribed dosage because of out-of-pocket costs. Lower drug benefits, higher out-of-pocket costs, lower income, and poorer health were associated with underuse of medications. Drug benefits with high out-of-pocket costs might not be effective for beneficiaries who use medications for chronic diseases, especially those with low incomes.Keywords
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