One out of every seven people in the United States who filled an insulin prescription in 2017 and 2018 spent more than 40 percent of their post-subsistence family income — defined as a “catastrophic spending” level — on insulin.

A report published in the July issue of Health Affairs by Yale University researchers indicates that 14.1% of Americans (representing 1.2 million people) who use insulin reached those high spending levels over the course of one year.

“Nearly two-thirds of patients who experienced catastrophic spending on insulin were Medicare beneficiaries,” the report notes. “Catastrophic spending was 61 percent less likely among Medicaid beneficiaries than among Medicare beneficiaries, suggesting that factors other than income, such as different types of insurance coverage, may influence catastrophic insulin spending.”

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical BenefitsPRO.com information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com

Already have an account?

 

BenefitsPRO

Join BenefitsPRO

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to navigate the shifting employee benefits industry. Join BenefitsPRO.com now!

  • Unlimited access to BenefitsPRO.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on BenefitsPRO.com and ALM events.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join BenefitsPRO

Copyright © 2023 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.