Strategies used by adults aged 18–64 to reduce their prescription drug costs, 2017

: In 2017, nearly 60% of U.S. adults aged 18-64 reported being prescribed medication in the past 12 months (1). Approximately 70% of prescription medications carry out-of-pocket costs, with generics costing on average $6 and brand names costing on average $30 (2). Strategies to reduce prescription drug costs at the individual level may include asking one's doctor for a lower-cost medication, not taking medication as prescribed, or using alternative therapies (3). This report examines changes over time in the percentage of adults aged 18-64 who were prescribed medication and reported using these selected strategies to reduce their prescription drug costs in the past 12 months.