Impact of prescription drug expense on low-income women with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes in the state of Nebraska

Objective: A survey was designed to assess the burden of acquiring medications in low-income Nebraska women. Methods: The survey was mailed to 23,000 women. Questions asked evaluated health status, prescription drug coverage, income, and impact associated with purchasing medications. Data was evaluated in aggregate and comparisons were made between those with and without prescription drug coverage. Results: 23,000 surveys were mailed and 8,044 (35.0%) were returned. About 85% of respondents made less than $30,000 yearly and 57.9% lived in towns of less than 5,000. Fifty-six percent reported having hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or more than one of these diseases. More than half of the respondents had stopped drug therapy and 28% stopped buying some foods in order to purchase medications. Respondents with prescription drug coverage had lower levels of stress but 80% remained worried about drug cost. Conclusion: Low-income rural women who need medication for common chronic diseases are having difficulty meeting this need.