For your perusal:
The Commonwealth Fund
   The Disabled: The Forgotten Population in the Medicare
   Drug Debate
http://www.cmwf.org/

About 5 million Americans under age 65 qualify for
Medicare coverage because they are totally and permanently
disabled. They are more likely than the elderly to live in
poverty, be in poor health, and experience difficulties
living independently and performing basic daily tasks.
While both the disabled and elderly were about equally
likely to fill at least one prescription, the average
number of prescriptions filled annually by disabled users
(34) was much higher than for elderly prescription users
(25). Mean annual prescription spending for the disabled
was almost 50% above that for the elderly ($1,284 vs.
$841). Disabled beneficiaries' high drug costs and low
incomes make paying for prescription medications
particularly burdensome, and many public programs do not
fulfill their need for assistance.

Beth T. the OT

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