A Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Focusing on Coverage and Cost

Pharmaceuticals are a critical element of modern medical treatment, yet the traditional Medicare benefits package does not include coverage of outpatient prescription drugs. This omission is significant because the 38.1 million people who comprise the Medicare population are disproportionately likely to use drugs. The elderly represent 14 percent of the U.S. population but account for more than one-third of total prescription drug expenditures.