Changes in Health Care and Prescription Medication Affordability in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

In the US, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant rise in unemployment and economic loss that disproportionately impacted low-income individuals. It is unknown how health care and prescription medication affordability changed among low-income adults during the COVID-19 pandemic overall and compared with their higher-income counterparts.

Objective

To evaluate changes in health care affordability and prescription medication affordability during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021 and 2022) compared with pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels (2019) and whether income-based inequities changed.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cross-sectional study included adults 18 years and older participating in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in 2019, 202

SUBMITTER: Mein SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11215556 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature