I did a double-take when I read this headline from EmaxHealth. What the--seven out of ten?
Yes. The results of the 2007 national Health Tracking Household Survey were reported in The New York Times. Seven out of ten adults under 65 reported going without their prescriptions because they could not afford to. The study looked at 10,400 adults under the age of 65. Compare this with 2003, when only one in ten adults skipped their medications due to the cost.
Keep in mind, these are results for 2007; I cannot imagine how much worse this has gotten with the recent economic downturn.
Study lead author Laurie E. Felland adds, "Our findings are particularly troublesome given the increased reliance on prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions... People who go without their prescriptions experience worsening health and complications." Take it from me, a person with a chronic condition, I've had a front-row seat to the spiraling cost of prescription drugs. I'm doing all right but it really, truly causes me to worry about my fellow chronically ill Americans! And even though I do not have to chose between eating and taking my meds, the cost still smarts.
Obama's health care reform plan includes "lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market." Here's hoping Secretary Daschle and Congress can make that happen--fast! Will it be enough? (Chart via The New York Times)
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