Thursday, March 22, 2018

Prescription Medication Consumption has Grown Significantly, Especially Among Seniors

According to the CDC, in the past 30 days, 90% of people over 65 have taken at least one prescription medication, 67% took three or more prescription medications, and 41% took five or more prescription medications.
Yes, prescription drug coverage is very important to seniors, but so is cost. What good is broad coverage if the member can’t afford the medication? So how do you develop a prescription plan that stands out to prospects and retains existing members without breaking the bank? The answer to this question isn’t so simple.
Lifestyle changes can improve or even reverse some chronic conditions, lessening the need for some medications, so it’s important that health plans develop engagement programs that encourage members to do things like exercise more and change their diet. Participation in these programs will lead to fewer prescriptions written and ultimately lower costs for the member and the health plan.  
But engagement programs take time and effort to have a real impact. It is easier to keep living unhealthy lives and pop a pill rather than go on a diet or to the gym and workout.
According to Deft’s 2018 Medicare Shopping and Switching Study, of those who had a standalone Part D plan in 2017, MedSupp members were significantly more likely to shop for 2018 drug coverage than OMO beneficiaries.

https://blog.deftresearch.com/resources/guest-post-medicare-prescription-drug-coverage-cost-benefit-trade-off?utm_campaign=2018%20MSS_Study%20&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=61557745&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--pLdZuusodD-vCPi2NHlYjT0LfP6mJwLtyatTgiFqXHxD0pjShTYnC7Kg2CrzszL91aQuEgjsqycU1o4SP0Ted0a9mWnoF2_kZbF7nSIVFEoR16PQ&_hsmi=61557745 

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