The Insurance Effect on Prescription Drug Expenditures Among the Elderly: Findings From the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

摘要

BACKGROUND:: Despite continuing debate over a prescription drug benefit for the Medicare program, there has been relatively little research estimating the potential cost of providing such a benefit. OBJECTIVE:: The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of prescription drug insurance on outpatient prescription drug expenditures among the elderly. RESEARCH DESIGN:: We studied respondents aged >/=65 years to the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a representative survey of the U.S. noninstitutionalized population. Survey-weighted linear regression models were used to estimate the probability of any expenditures and total expenditures while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, chronic conditions, and health status. MEASURES:: We used prescription drug insurance status and outpatient prescription drug expenditures. RESULTS:: An estimated 34 million elderly people filled 630 million prescriptions in 1997. Thirty-seven percent did not have prescription drug insurance. Total prescription drug expenditures exceeded