Drug costs lead millions in the US to not take medications as prescribed, according to CDC
According to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of adults in the United States do not take prescribed medications because of the high cost. Most adults between the ages of 18 and 64 are already taking at least one prescription drug by 2021 Yet more than 8% of them – some 9.2 million people – said they were trying to save money by skipping doses, taking less than prescribed, or delaying getting a prescription, according to CDC data. While average drug costs did not increase in 2021, the number of prescriptions did, and that increased spending. According to the CDC, more than a third of adults are already taking at least three prescription drugs by 2021. And data from health analytics firm IQVIA shows that total prescription drug costs have increased by nearly 5% since 2020. by 2021, to $63 billion. Delaying or adjusting medications can lead to more severe health effects and potentially higher costs if additional treatments become needed Previous research shows that in 6 people If you have diabetes, about 1 person is dispensing their insulin. “The main takeaway is that 1.3 million people have been rationing insulin in the United States, one of the richest countries in the world,” said Dr. Adam Gaffney, pulmonologist and intensive care physician. at Harvard Medical School and the Cambridge Medical Alliance and was the lead author of that study. “This is a life-saving drug. The delivery of insulin can have life-threatening consequences.” Care insurance did not take prescribed drugs to reduce costs, compared with less than 7% of those with private insurance. People with disabilities are about three times more likely to be like people without disabilities in dispensing drugs, as are people who are sick. according to CDC data. For this report, researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics analyzed responses to the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, a representative survey of American households.
Millions of U.S. adults don’t take prescribed medication because of cost, according to a new study report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most adults between the ages of 18 and 64 were already taking at least one prescription drug by 2021. But more than 8% of them – about 9.2 million people – said they were trying to save money by by skipping doses, taking less than prescribed, or delaying getting a prescription filled. , according to CDC data.
While the average cost of drugs hasn’t increased in 2021, prescriptions have increased, and that has increased spending. According to the CDC, more than a third of adults are already taking at least three prescription drugs by 2021. And data from health analytics firm IQVIA shows that total prescription drug costs have increased by nearly 5% since 2020. by 2021, to 63 billion USD.
Delaying or adjusting medications can lead to more serious health effects and potentially higher costs if additional treatments become necessary.
Previous research found that about 1 in 6 people with diabetes are adjusting their insulin levels.
“What’s remarkable is that 1.3,” said Dr. Adam Gaffney, pulmonologist and critical care physician at Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Medical Alliance and lead author of the study. million people already use dietary insulin in the United States, one of the richest countries in the world.” learn. “This is a life-saving drug. The delivery of insulin can have life-threatening consequences.”
New CDC data shows a wide disparity in how often drug costs keep people from taking their prescribed medication.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of adults without health care insurance did not take prescribed medication to reduce costs, compared with less than 7% of those with private insurance.
People with disabilities also had about three times higher drug delivery rates than those without disabilities, as well as those in normal or poor health compared with those in good health.
According to CDC data, women are also more likely than men.
For this report, researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics analyzed responses to the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, a representative survey of U.S. households. Ky.
