PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Doctors say older Americans greatly benefit from prescription drugs. Unfortunately, the high and escalating prices are increasingly putting important prescription drugs out of reach of the people who need them. And, patients are not the only ones being affected.
Experts say the high cost of prescription drugs impacts all Americans in some way. Those with health insurance coverage will pay higher premiums, deductibles or cost sharing. Higher prescription-drug spending also increases costs for taxpayer-funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Experts agree this translates into higher taxes, cuts to public programs or both.