Limit total out-of-pocket costs for all patients
PAN’S POSITION
Out-of-pocket costs should not prevent people from obtaining needed treatment.
The administration, Congress, and public and private insurers must consider total out-of-pocket cost of care when developing policies to ensure that out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services, including prescription medications, are affordable and do not prevent patients—especially those with lower or fixed incomes—from starting and staying on medically necessary treatments.
High out-of-pocket costs frequently prevent patients from accessing their prescribed healthcare services and 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, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, each new prescription would eat through our savings until there was nothing left.
Lynn Estep, Indiana
Living with Parkinson’s disease
