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State Health Compare

Percent who made changes to medical drugs because of cost in the past year

Measure Overview

Medical drug costs are significantly higher in the United States than in many other nations. Rising prescription drug prices in recent years have made it difficult for some Americans to afford their prescriptions. As a result, individuals may alter their medical drug consumption behavior out of financial necessity, such as asking their doctor for cheaper medications, delaying refills, taking less medication than prescribed, skipping dosages, using alternative therapies, or buying medications out of the country. 

With an estimated two-thirds of adults in the U.S. taking at least one prescription medication, financially motivated changes to medication use can affect the health of millions of people across the country. Measuring changes in medical drug consumption behavior, such as people changing prescription drugs due to cost, is an important consideration when assessing health care affordability in the U.S. 

Percent Who Made Changes to Medical Drugs by State, Age, and More: Breakdowns and Data Source

 
State Health Compare provides state-level estimates of the percent who made changes to medical drugs due to cost using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). 

Two breakdowns are available for this measure: Age and Coverage Type.

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percent of americans who made changes to medical drugs due to cost in the past year. 43.5% of uninsured, 28.7% public coverage, 23.6% private coverage.

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