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.
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
