Senior Citizens Struggle Under Worry, Danger, Cost
of Taking Multiple Medications
●
57%
of seniors forget to take medications
● 23% neglected to fill a prescription on
time
● 40% of seniors
(taking 5 or more drugs regularly) are worried about their ability to afford their
medications
● 49% of those enrolled in Medicare Part D would
like to know how to delay or avoid entering the Medicare Coverage Gap
(the Donut Hole)
● 40% of seniors
(taking 5 or more prescription medications daily) are concerned about their drugs side
effects or worry about interactions with other drugs
New survey finds 25% of seniors take 10 to 19
pills daily, 60% on Medicare have taken some steps to avoid the donut
hole - Medco offers free help
Dec. 29, 2009 - America's seniors are being
overwhelmed by the number of prescription drugs they take on a daily
basis. According to a new national survey of more than 1,000 people ages
65 and older who use medications, more than half (51 percent) take at
least five different prescription drugs regularly and one in four take
between 10 and 19 pills each day.
The challenge of managing multiple medications is
clear - nearly three in five (57 percent) of those polled admit that
they forget to take their medications.
Furthermore, the more drugs they
use, the more likely they are not to remember to take them. Among those
using five or more medications, 63 percent say they forget doses; a
higher rate as compared to 51 percent among people who take fewer
medicines.
"It's usually the patients who are in worse health
who are taking large numbers of prescription drugs. For these people,
especially, taking their medications properly and regularly is
critical," said Dr. Woody Eisenberg, vice president and chief medical
officer of Medco Retiree Solutions.
"The problem is that the more
medications prescribed, the harder it is for older people to manage them
well and know essential information that can help prevent
medication-related harm."
The survey, conducted by Kelton Research on behalf
of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) also reveals what seniors
don't know about their medications could potentially harm them, and the
more medications they take, the less they seem to know.
More than one
third (34 percent) of seniors using five or more prescription drugs do
not feel knowledgeable enough about the drugs they're prescribed or
their potential side effects, and 35 percent are not sure they can name
all the medications they use.
"Being well-informed about medications is crucial
for patient safety," said Dr. Eisenberg. "To reduce drug risks, patients
should always know the names of the drugs they take, why they take them,
and any drugs they should avoid to prevent potential side effects."
Costly Medicare Concerns
Multiple medication use is also taking its toll on
the financial health of America's seniors. The ability to afford their
drugs is the top concern among 40 percent of seniors taking five or more
prescription medications daily, followed by their worry over drug side
effects (23 percent) and interactions (17 percent).
Annual period to make changes in Medicare coverage
opens Sunday, Nov. 15, runs through Dec. 31
Nov. 13, 2009
Among those enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan, 37
percent are most concerned about not being able to afford their
medications, and almost half (49 percent) want to know how to delay or
avoid falling into the donut hole or coverage gap - the phase in which
the beneficiary is responsible for the full cost of their drugs.
The survey found 60 percent of Medicare
beneficiaries have taken some steps to delay reaching the donut hole,
such as using generic medications (76 percent) and asking for free
samples from their doctors (39 percent).
But just 27 percent use mail order to avoid the
donut hole, despite the fact that on average, seniors surveyed estimated
that using mail order saved them about $540 a year and 19 percent
estimated they saved at least $1,000 annually.
"The Medicare prescription drug program has made a
huge difference in making prescription drugs more affordable for
seniors; but for those taking multiple medications, the costs can still
be a major burden - especially if you end up in the donut hole," said
Dr. Eisenberg. "It's essential that enrollees take advantage of
cost-savings opportunities so they can afford the drugs they need to
maintain their health."
Medco Launches New Initiative
Medco is launching an initiative to assist seniors
and Medicare beneficiaries in better managing their medications and
getting the most out of their Medicare plan. As part of the initiative,
Medco has developed a free consumer booklet called "The Smart Guide to
Managing Medications."
It provides tips to help seniors better manage
their medications and their costs, and includes information to discuss
with their physicians and pharmacists about the drugs they're
prescribed. The guide also offers ways to manage medication costs within
the Medicare Part D benefit. "The Smart Guide to Managing
Medications" is available free in a downloadable version -
click here, or go to www.medcomedicare.com.
Seniors can also request a copy through the mail by
sending a postcard requesting "The Smart Guide to Managing
Medications" to: "The Smart Guide to Managing Medications"; PO Box 8007;
Parsippany, NJ 07054-8007.
Medco Medicare Part D PDP members have access to a
number of support services that can help them better manage their
medication routine, according to the company.
These services include:
specialist pharmacists trained in the medications used to treat chronic
and complex conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol; Medicare
advisors available 24/7 to help seniors understand how to lower cost
medication options and Coverage Gap communications that inform members
about their proximity to the coverage gap and educate them about how to
delay reaching the Coverage Gap and lower their overall annual
prescription costs.
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is
pioneering the world's most advanced pharmacyฎ and its clinical research
and innovations are part of Medco making medicine smarter for more than
60 million members.
With more than 20,000 employees dedicated to
improving patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public
and private sector clients, and 2008 revenue exceeding $51 billion,
Medco ranks 45th on the Fortune 500 list and is named among the world's
most innovative, most admired and most trustworthy companies.
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