High Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Spending Burden among Privately Insured Rural and Urban Adults Age 18-64

Authors

Jean A. Talbot PhD, University of Southern Maine, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Elora Way, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Yvonne Jonk PhD, Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern MaineFollow
Erica C. Ziller PhD, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Rural Health Research Center

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2025

Publication Title

Maine Rural HealthResearch Center Research & Policy Brief PB 89: January 2025

Abstract

Research indicates that as prescription drug (Rx) out -of-pocket (OOP) spending rises, medication adherence may decline.1 High Rx OOP costs are related to delayed initiation, premature termination, and interruption of drug therapies across a range of diagnoses in- cluding cancer,2 type 2 diabetes, 3 and rheumatoid arthritis.4 Among adults taking Rx, about one in four report having difficult y afford- ing their medications. 5 The share of those reporting difficulty rises to over one in three among those taking four or more Rx.5

Comments

Support for this study was provided by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration cooperative agreement #U1CRH03716. The information, conclusions and opinions expressed are the authors' and no endorsement by FORH P, HRSA, or HHS is intended or should be inferred.

Recommended Citation

Talbot, Jean A. PhD; Way, Elora; Jonk, Yvonne PhD; and Ziller, Erica C. PhD, "High Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Spending Burden among Privately Insured Rural and Urban Adults Age 18-64" (2025). All Maine Rural Health Research Center Publications. 3.
https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/all_mrhrc/3

Funding Organization

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration