John D. Piette|Michele Heisler|Todd H. Wagner
Problems Paying Out-of-Pocket Medication Costs Among Older Adults With Diabetes
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Stanford University
identify problems faced older adults diabetes due outofpocket medication costsin crosssectional national survey 875 adults diabetes treated hypoglycemic medication respondents reported whether underused prescription medications due cost pressures experienced financial problems associated medication costs forgoing basic necessities respondents also described interactions clinicians medication costsa total 19 respondents reported cutting back medication use prior year due cost 11 reported cutting back diabetes medications 7 reported cutting back diabetes medications least per month moreover 28 reported forgoing food essentials pay medication costs 14 increased credit card debt 10 borrowed money family friends pay prescriptions medication cost problems especially common among respondents younger higher monthly outofpocket costs prescription drug coverage general respondents including reporting medication cost problems reported health care providers given information assistance address medication cost pressuresoutofpocket medication costs pose significant burden many adults diabetes contribute decreased treatment adherence clinicians actively identify patients diabetes facing medication cost pressures assist modifying medication regimens helping understand importance prescribed medication providing information sources lowcost drugs linking patients coverage programs