Ensure people with serious illnesses do not go without treatment because of out-of-pocket costs
PAN’s POSITION
Out-of-pocket costs should not prevent individuals with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases from obtaining their prescribed medications.
The administration, Congress, and public and private insurers should set policies that ensure that out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications are affordable and do not prevent patients—especially those with lower or fixed incomes—from starting and staying on medically necessary treatments.
Out-of-pocket costs are harmful
High out-of-pocket medication costs frequently prevent patients from accessing their prescribed medications. When faced with high out-of-pocket drug costs, patients with serious conditions take longer to start treatment, are less likely to fill their prescriptions, and experience increased interruptions in treatment.
I never liked asking for help, but with multiple sclerosis, the cost for meds to keep me active were staggering! Without the PAN Foundation’s help, there’s no way I could afford them on my Social Security income.
Don Schwader, Wisconsin, living with multiple sclerosis
Multiple studies have shown that even a monthly co-pay of $40 for a medication can cause many patients to forgo filling their prescriptions.
With many essential medicines for serious conditions requiring much higher co-pays, high out-of-pocket costs prevent patients from the treatment they need and exacerbate widening economic insecurity for older adults.
Act now
Tell Congress to lower out-of-pocket costs for 46 million Americans who depend on Medicare Part D.
