Medicare and drug coverage: a women's health issue.

The lack of prescription drug coverage under the Medicare program translates into high out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. This nationwide study of older Americans with hypertension ("high blood pressure") demonstrates that women bear the disproportionate burden of this gap in Medicare coverage. Women form the majority of older people with hypertension, and are less likely to have supplemental policies to cover the cost of the prescription drugs that are needed to treat the disease. Moreover, women have substantially lower incomes. Despite their economic vulnerability, older women with hypertension spend substantially more on prescription drugs than men.