Kanavos, Panos 
ORCID: 0000-0001-9518-3089 and Gemmill-Toyama, Marin
(2010)
Prescription drug coverage among elderly and disabled Americans: can Medicare—Part D reduce inequities in access?
International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics, 10 (3).
pp. 203-218.
ISSN 1389-6563
Abstract
This paper explores the determinants of demand for prescription drug coverage among the elderly population in the United States, using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and seeks to analyse the impact that the Medicare prescription drug coverage bill (Medicare—Part D) has on Medicare beneficiaries. The results indicate that individuals who are Hispanic, black, or of another race or ethnicity, over the age of 74, not married, in poor health, fall into the low- to middle-income brackets, and have less than a high school degree are more likely to be covered through a public program, more likely to be uninsured for prescription medicine outlays, and less likely to have private prescription drug coverage. The paper concludes that there is cause for considerable concern for low income citizens who have significant prescription drug outlays, and, therefore, the greatest need because their prescription drug costs may not be covered beyond a certain limit unless they reach catastrophic proportions. This continues to raise equity in access concerns among elderly patients.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.springerlink.com/content/1389-6563/ |
| Additional Information: | © 2010 Springer |
| Divisions: | Social Policy European Institute LSE Health |
| Subjects: | E History America > E151 United States (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| JEL classification: | I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I11 - Analysis of Health Care Markets I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I18 - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Oct 2010 14:28 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Jan 2024 08:33 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/29216 |
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