MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

Introduction

Drug coverage makes a real difference in people's lives, for two reasons. Those who have it use prescriptions at a 50-percent higher rate than those without it, presumably to their benefit; and people without it spend on average $220 more per year for the few drugs they do get.

Discussion

Only eleven years ago, the percentage of Americans with no drug coverage was almost twice as high (48 percent) as it is today. By most measures of equity, then, things have gotten better: more people have coverage, and for advocates of smaller government, ...