We analyzed survey and administrative data
for 4492 Medicare + Choice enrollees aged 67 and above
enrolled in a predominantly group-model health maintenance
organization in 2000. Outcome measures included
difficulty affording medications, methods of coping with
medication costs including obtaining medicines from
another country, using free samples, and stretching out
medications to make them last longer. Independent variables
included prescription benefit status, income, wealth
measures, health status, and out-of-pocket prescription
drug spending.