Prescription Medication Use, Coverage, and Nonadherence Among Adults Age 65 and Older: United States, 2021-2022

This report provides a comprehensive look at prescription medication use, prescription drug coverage, and cost-related nonadherence among adults age 65 and older (older adults).

Data from the 2021-2022 National Health Interview Survey were used to report prescription medication use in the past 12 months, prescription drug coverage at the time of interview, and cost-related nonadherence in the past 12 months among older adults. Two types of cost-related nonadherence are reported: 1) not getting needed prescription medication due to cost; and 2) not taking medication as prescribed due to cost (skipping doses, delaying filling a prescription, and taking less medication than prescribed) in the past 12 months. All estimates are presented by sex, age group, race and Hispanic origin, family income, food insecurity, urbanization, education, marital status, health insurance coverage, health status, disability status, and number of chronic conditions.

In 2021-2022, 88.6% of older adults took prescription medication, 82.7% had prescription drug coverage, 3.6% did not get needed prescription medication due to cost, and 3.4% did not take medication as prescribed due to cost. Older adults with no prescription drug coverage were more likely to not get prescription medication and to not take needed medication as prescribed than older adults with private or public prescription drug coverage. For both measures, cost-related nonadherence was six times higher among older adults who were food insecure compared with those who were food secure, and more than twice as likely among older adults reporting fair or poor health or with disabilities compared with those in excellent, very good, or good health, or without disabilities.