Perspective               

Drug Costs for Disabled People with Medicare

New information on the high cost of prescription drugs for disabled Americans with Medicare has provided the White House with more ammunition in its battle with Congress to pass a Medicare prescription drug benefit. A new study of people with Medicare shows that people with disabilities who lack drug coverage pay 50% more out-of-pocket for 50% fewer prescriptions than people with Medicare who are over 65. This report, titled "Disability, Medicare, and Prescription Drugs," may be instrumental in the fight for prescription drug coverage.

The study, released by the White House National Economic Council and the Domestic Policy Council, reported several findings. First, the 5 million disabled people with Medicare are generally poorer and sicker than those who qualify for Medicare because of age. Second, these disabled individuals have less access to private options for prescription drug coverage than people over 65. Third, the small number of people with disabilities who do have access to drug coverage from private insurers often find that it is unaffordable.

Results also showed that disabled Americans are 35 percent less likely to have drug coverage through employer-based insurance than those who qualify for Medicare based on age. Less than 5 percent of disabled Americans have Medigap insurance, insurance that supplements Medicare, for drug coverage, compared with 12 percent of nondisabled Americans.

Today, nearly half of all people with Medicare have no prescription drug coverage for part or all of the year. To make matters worse, more than 900,000 people with Medicare are being dropped nationwide by their managed care plans this year and will lose their prescription drug coverage. More than 100,000 will have no other HMO option and may not be able to buy even limited prescription drug coverage through a Medicare Supplemental Insurance policy. These policies are often not available to people with Medicare, especially people with disabilities, and even when available tend to be unaffordable.

The only way to ensure that all older and disabled Americans can get the medications they need is by expanding Medicare to include a prescription drug benefit. If you need prescription drugs and cannot afford them, call your Senator or Congressperson to let them know.

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