Hispanics/African Americans most at risk from high Rx costs

The high costs of prescription drugs has led many Hispanics and African Americans in the USA to take desperate measures, like delaying filling a prescription or skipping doses of the medicines, according to a new AARP national study of adults aged 18 or more. The study also found a high level of support in the Hispanic and African American communities for state legislation to make prescription drugs more affordable.

"High drug prices mean more than stressing a family budget. Too many people put their health and the health of their families at risk when they cannot afford their drugs," said AARP director of public policy John Rother. "Four of every 10 Hispanics or African Americans have difficulty paying for their drugs, which is why nearly nine in 10 people in the Hispanic and African American communities support state legislative fixes. Our job - and the job of our elected officials - is to address this problem with the urgency a crisis of this magnitude demands," Mr Rother added.

Hispanics had the most difficulty paying for prescription drugs with more than four in 10 saying they had problems paying for a prescription in the past year, while 38% of African Americans experienced difficulty paying for drugs. When asked about their ability to pay for prescription drugs over the next two years, 61% of Hispanics and 68% of African Americans expressed concern.