Weekly

The figure shows the percentage of adults aged 18-64 years who did not get needed prescription drugs because of cost, by poverty status, in the United States during 1999-2010, according to the National Health Interview Survey. During 1999-2010, the percentage of working-age adults who reported that in the past 12 months they needed prescription drugs but did not obtain them because of cost was higher among those in families with low income than in families with higher income. The percentage that reported not getting needed prescription drugs increased for all income groups during the period 1999-2010. In 2010, 21.5% of those below the poverty level did not obtain needed prescription drugs compared with 3.9% among those at or exceeding 400% of the poverty level.

* Based on response to the question, "During the past 12 months, was there any time when you needed prescription medicine but didn't get it because you couldn't afford it?"

† Poverty status is based on family income and family size using the U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds. Family income was imputed when information was missing, using multiple imputation methodology.

§ Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized adult population.

During 1999--2010, the percentage of working-age adults who reported that in the past 12 months they needed prescription drugs but did not obtain them because of cost was higher among those in families with low income than in families with higher income. The percentage that reported not getting needed prescription drugs increased for all income groups during the period 1999--2010. In 2010, 21.5% of those below the poverty level did not obtain needed prescription drugs compared with 3.9% among those at or exceeding 400% of the poverty level.

Source: National Health Interview Survey data, 1999--2010. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

Alternate Text: The figure above shows the percentage of adults aged 18-64 years who did not get needed prescription drugs because of cost, by poverty status, in the United States during 1999-2010, according to the National Health Interview Survey. During 1999-2010, the percentage of working-age adults who reported that in the past 12 months they needed prescription drugs but did not obtain them because of cost was higher among those in families with low income than in families with higher income. The percentage that reported not getting needed prescription drugs increased for all income groups during the period 1999-2010. In 2010, 21.5% of those below the poverty level did not obtain needed prescription drugs compared with 3.9% among those at or exceeding 400% of the poverty level

QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 18--64 Years Who Did Not Get Needed Prescription Drugs Because of Cost,* by Poverty Status† --- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1999--2010§