Often when thinking of those who cannot afford prescriptions we think of the elderly, but recent studies have shown the elderly are not alone in this dilemma. So many Americans (of every age) can no longer afford the cost of their prescriptions, with the stretched economy, and the ever rising cost of meds it makes sense. In an article by the Center for Studying Health System Change, we are informed of just how the statistics have changed in recent years. This particular article looks at the amount of Americans under the age of 65 reporting difficulties affording prescriptions. The percent of Americans with difficulties shifted from about 10 percent in 2003 to about 14 percent in 2007 – a 35 percent increase! This means that about 36 million “working age” Americans went without prescriptions in 2007 as opposed to the 12 million people (relatively) in 2003. The below is an excerpt from the article explaining why (at least why they think) this number has shifted so drastically.
“Although increases in drug spending growth, reflecting increases in both price and utilization, slowed in recent years—from almost 16 percent in 2003 to 5.5 percent in 2007—expensive biologics and other specialty drugs are becoming a larger share of drug spending.1 Patients with prescription drug coverage also are paying a larger share of prescription drug costs, especially for brand-name drugs. Most insurers have adopted tiered cost sharing for prescription drugs, where patients pay increasingly larger amounts for generic, preferred brand-name, nonpreferred brand-name and, in some cases, specialty or biologic drugs, and the differences in payment have been increasing over time.”
Felland, Laurie E., and James D. Reschovosky, More Nonelderly Americans Face Problems Affording Prescription Drugs, Tracking Report No. 22, Center for Studying Health System Change, Washington, D.C.(January 2009)
not only is the cost of prescription meds out of control, so are the side affects. it is scary to me to take a medication with a long list of side affects. I paid $100 for prescription meds, which included only 5 pills, and it caused me to have halucinations after only 1 pill. needless to say my money and the pills went down the toilet!!! my family is very blessed to have good health, but it scares me when i hear about people who are on numerous meds. (some of the meds are to counteract the affects of other meds they are taking) and the amount of money they spend.
ReplyDeletePrescription drugs can be very expensive if there is not a generic drug available. Side effects are predictable but unpredictable for each individual so they can be very scary. I hope that your physician spoke to you about the side effects before you started your medication. I agree that patients who see numerous doctors for numerous things are at a higher risk for contraindications.
ReplyDeleteSomething else, physicians are most often very willing to go over the side effects with you and discuss your fears if you ask them. I know many patients who just never ask! If your physician is unable to talk with you about it due to time constraints ask a nurse! You have every right to know. Physicians and nurses want for you to take your prescription and are a very knowledgeable resource for you to use.
ReplyDelete_Mallory Cloud
The cost of prescription drugs are out of control. Since I'm one of the lucky people who has medical coverage one thing that came to mind reading these articles - the drug store never asks if I wish to use generic versus brand name. This should be a standard question to all patients. I never thought to make the request but will remedy this on my next trip the corner drug store.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, from my past experience, the pharmacy ususally assumes you want generic unless the prescribing physician has specifically said otherwise. My husband has to take Levoxyl for this thyroid, and his Endocrinologist does not want him to take generic. We often have to check the bottle before leaving the pharmacy, if they gave us the right one.
ReplyDelete