Strategies Used by Adults Aged 18-64 to Reduce Their Prescription Drug Costs, 2017.

In 2017, nearly 60% of U.S. adults aged 18-64 reported being prescribed medication in the past 12 months (1). Approximately 70% of prescription medications carry out-of-pocket costs, with generics costing on average $6 and brand names costing on average $30 (2). Strategies to reduce prescription drug costs at the individual level may include asking one's doctor for a lower-cost medication, not taking medication as prescribed, or using alternative therapies (3). This report examines changes over time in the percentage of adults aged 18-64 who were prescribed medication and reported using these selected strategies to reduce their prescription drug costs in the past 12 months. All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.