How do financial barriers limit access to prescription drugs?
The cost of prescription medications can be a barrier, particularly for the rural elderly and those without health insurance. Because older people tend to have higher numbers of prescriptions and live on a fixed income, paying for needed medications can be a problem. Medicare now includes an optional prescription drug benefit. For more information, please see the guide, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit. Rural residents under age 65 are more likely to be uninsured than those living in urban areas, and those that do have health insurance are less likely to have prescription drug coverage. Rural areas also suffer from higher poverty rates. These factors combine to make it more difficult for rural residents to pay for prescription medications.
