Medicare patients take fewer medications because of high costs

Many Medicare patients who require a prescription to buy Paxil who are in the so-called donut hole forego their medication because the cost is too high and Medicare does not pick up enough of the expense, according to a new study published in the Archives of General Psychology.

The donut hole refers to a coverage gap that exists in Medicare's prescription drug program. The plan typically covers 75 percent of patients' medication costs up to about $2,800 in one year. At this point, individuals must pay full price out of pocket until their medication spending reaches roughly $4,550 for the year, at which point coverage kicks in again.

After reviewing data collected from more than 65,000 Medicare beneficiaries, the University of Pittsburgh researchers found that those in the donut hole reduced the amount of prescription medications they used by about 12 percent per month, compared to those who had full coverage.

The results indicate that even seniors who are eligible for Medicare may benefit from purchasing their prescriptions from Canadian internet pharmacies. This could significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.