Expensive medicines are increasingly hitting seniors and other beneficiaries of Medicare's prescription drug program, known as Part D, according to a Wall Street Journal study.
In 2015, the median out-of-pocket cost for a drug purchased through Part D was $117. That was up nearly half from $79 in 2011.
Some 220 Part D drugs had annual out-of-pocket costs of $1,000 or more in 2015, up 86 percent from 118 drugs in 2011.
Drug prices rose 14 percent per year overall from 2011 to 2015, the study found.
Allyson Good curates senior living, health, and family content. She is formerly the Managing Editor of Active Life, a print newspaper published in 2016-2017 for seniors, choosing practical articles on health, money, safety, and everyday living for older readers. She is also an avid gardener and offers up Garden Hints and Tips on a regular basis.
