Post by Banker on Oct 24, 2012 18:28:21 GMT 7
MANY Australians aged over fifty are skipping medication because of the high cost of prescription medicines, a new survey has found.
The findings of a National Seniors survey of 3188 people show that 21 per cent of Australians aged 50 to 64 are skipping doses to counter mounting costs.
Of those aged over 65, 12 per cent are skipping doses, the survey found.
National Seniors CEO Michael O'Neill said the extent to which baby boomers were doing without could see access to affordable medication become an election issue.
The survey's findings are to be presented at a Medicines Australia conference in Sydney on Wednesday.
Previous National Seniors research showed that rising living costs mostly hurt the over-70s who, without the benefit of superannuation, survive on small fixed incomes.
But Mr O'Neill said the latest findings suggested it was 50 to 64-year-olds who were struggling with the costs of prescription medicines.
He said the findings confirmed the vital role social security cards, such as the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and the Pensioner Concession Card, played in ensuring affordable medicines for over-65s.
"With over half those surveyed saying that higher drug costs would influence their vote, moves to curtail the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) could become an election issue," Mr O'Neill said.
The survey found around a third of 50 to 64-year-olds had felt financial strain due to prescription costs in the past five years.
Mr O'Neill said many older people were skipping pills or taking smaller doses to curb costs, while even more were looking for cheaper alternatives and some were not filling their prescriptions at all.
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/drug-costs-see-over-50s-skip-medication/story-fn3dxiwe-1226502117510
The findings of a National Seniors survey of 3188 people show that 21 per cent of Australians aged 50 to 64 are skipping doses to counter mounting costs.
Of those aged over 65, 12 per cent are skipping doses, the survey found.
National Seniors CEO Michael O'Neill said the extent to which baby boomers were doing without could see access to affordable medication become an election issue.
The survey's findings are to be presented at a Medicines Australia conference in Sydney on Wednesday.
Previous National Seniors research showed that rising living costs mostly hurt the over-70s who, without the benefit of superannuation, survive on small fixed incomes.
But Mr O'Neill said the latest findings suggested it was 50 to 64-year-olds who were struggling with the costs of prescription medicines.
He said the findings confirmed the vital role social security cards, such as the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and the Pensioner Concession Card, played in ensuring affordable medicines for over-65s.
"With over half those surveyed saying that higher drug costs would influence their vote, moves to curtail the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) could become an election issue," Mr O'Neill said.
The survey found around a third of 50 to 64-year-olds had felt financial strain due to prescription costs in the past five years.
Mr O'Neill said many older people were skipping pills or taking smaller doses to curb costs, while even more were looking for cheaper alternatives and some were not filling their prescriptions at all.
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/drug-costs-see-over-50s-skip-medication/story-fn3dxiwe-1226502117510
