More than one-quarter of Americans struggle to afford medication — why some pay more and how you could save hundreds

Core Insights - Prescription drugs are increasingly expensive, with 27% of Americans reporting they left a prescription unfilled due to high costs [1] Group 1: Impact of High Drug Costs - Nonadherence to medication can worsen chronic conditions, leading to difficult choices between health and essential expenses, which may increase long-term costs [2] - The issue of high drug costs affects both insured and uninsured individuals [2] Group 2: Insurance Coverage and Costs - 20% of Americans have at least one drug not covered by their insurance, leading to financial strain and treatment gaps [3] - On average, 23% of Americans not covered by Medicaid spend over $50 per month out of pocket on prescriptions [3] - The type of insurance plan influences drug costs, with those on health exchange or private plans paying more than those on Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare [4] Group 3: Payment Structures - The distinction between copay and coinsurance plans affects out-of-pocket expenses, with coinsurance potentially leading to higher costs for expensive drugs [5] - Approximately 8% of Americans are uninsured, limiting their options for medication [5] Group 4: Formulary Tiers - Formulary tiers categorize drugs covered by insurance, impacting out-of-pocket costs, with lower-tier drugs generally having lower copays [6]