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Low Income Medicare Drug Benefit Would Help Few

Wed, 12/06/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
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The Commonwealth Fund reports that proposals to help low income seniors by adding Medicare coverage for their drug costs would cover only 27% of those who have some level of "need" for prescription drug coverage. They point out that people have a need for coverage if they lack other insurance, if they have three or more chronic conditions, or if they have unusually high out-of-pocket cost for prescription medications. Many people who have these kinds of needs do not fall into the "low income" levels being considered as guidelines for a prescription drug benefit, so the report concludes that setting income as the only criteria for assistance would be very short-sighted.

The Commonwealth Fund reports that proposals to help low income seniors by adding Medicare coverage for their drug costs would cover only 27% of those who have some level of "need" for prescription drug coverage. They point out that people have a need for coverage if they lack other insurance, if they have three or more chronic conditions, or if they have unusually high out-of-pocket cost for prescription medications. Many people who have these kinds of needs do not fall into the "low income" levels being considered as guidelines for a prescription drug benefit, so the report concludes that setting income as the only criteria for assistance would be very short-sighted.