Strategies Used by Adults Aged 65 and Over to Reduce Their Prescription Drug Costs, 2016-2017

Questions for Robin Cohen, Ph.D. and Lead Author of “Strategies Used by Adults Aged 65 and Over to Reduce Their Prescription Drug Costs, 2016-2017”

Q: Why did you decide to do a report on strategies used to reduce prescription drug costs in the United States?

RC: Although most adults aged 65 and over have prescription drug coverage through either Medicare Part D or some other source such as private health insurance Medicaid, or VA coverage, previous data indicate that some older adults may still use strategies to reduce prescription drug costs including not taking medication as prescribed or asking their doctor for a lower cost medication.

Q: Do you have data that directly corresponds with this report that goes back further than 2016-2017?

RC: We previously examined this topic using the 2013 National Health Interview Survey. However, this previous report was not solely focused on adults aged 65 and over.

Q: How did the data vary by age, sex and insurance coverage?

RC: In 2016–2017, among U.S. adults aged 65 and over who were prescribed medication in the past 12 months, the percentage who did not take their medication as prescribed or asked their doctor for a lower-cost medication to reduce their prescription drug costs varied by sex, age, insurance status, and poverty status. Among adults aged 65 and over, women, those aged 65–74, those with Medicare only, and those who were near poor were the most likely to not take their medication as prescribed. Adults aged 75 and over, those with Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and those who were not poor were the least likely to ask their doctor for a lower-cost medication.

Q: Was there a specific finding in your report that you did not expect?

RC: No, the findings in this report were similar to those previously published with earlier data. However in this report we were able to expand on previous research by focus on adults aged 65 and over and examine differences by sex, age group, health insurance status, and poverty status.

Q: What is the take home message for this report?

RC: Among adults aged 65 and over who were prescribed medication in the past 12 months, 4.8% did not take their medication as prescribed to reduce their prescription drug costs, and 17.7% asked their doctor for a lower-cost medication. Among adults aged 65 and over, women, those aged 65–74, those with Medicare only, and those who were near poor were the most likely to not take their medication as prescribed. Adults aged 75 and over, those with Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and those who were not poor were the least likely to ask their doctor for a lower-cost medication.