Perspective               

Rural Communities and Prescription Drug Coverage

President Clinton recently released a report documenting the special challenges that over 9 million people with Medicare have trying to get and afford life-saving prescription drugs in rural communities. Older Americans and people with disabilities in rural communities tend to have a greater need for prescription drug coverage but have fewer coverage options.

People in rural communities are over 60 percent more likely to forego the prescription drugs they need than those in urban areas. About 57 percent of people with Medicare in rural communities do not have prescription drug coverage for all or part of the year, compared to 44 percent of people in urban areas. Less than 1 percent of older adults and people with disabilities are enrolled in Medicare HMOs with a prescription drug benefit. About 75 percent do not even have a Medicare HMO option in their area. As a result, rural seniors and people with disabilities disproportionately purchase Medigap policies, which tend to be very expensive.

Judging from the experiences of people in rural communities, the only way to ensure that all older and disabled Americans have prescription drug coverage is to expand Medicare to cover medications. It makes little sense to rely on private insurance companies or Medigap policies to fill gaps in prescription drug coverage. People with Medicare in rural communities need a meaningful Medicare prescription drug benefit that provides affordable, dependable coverage.

If you need help paying for your medications, some help is available. Some drug manufacturers have special programs for patients who meet certain requirements. You need to ask your doctor to sign you up, or you can call 202-853-3400 for a directory of different programs. There are also programs that offer discounts on mail-order drugs. Call 1-800-238-7828 or 1-800-277-1195 to find out more. Finally, some states help older adults with low incomes pay for their prescription drugs.

To find out more about these programs, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. The number is listed in Medicare & You, which was sent to people with Medicare in the fall. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

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