Medicare Monday: Hypertension is a chronic condition affecting nearly 70 million people in the U.S. Programs like Medicare Part D help patients.
Medicare Monday: Helping Hypertensive Patients Live Healthier Lives
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic condition affecting an estimated 70 million people in the United States.
Unfortunately, just 52 percent of these individuals have their high blood pressure under control.
Many people don’t realize taking their medicines as prescribed can help keep this chronic condition in check – and save money – for both individuals and the health care system overall.
As we’ve been covering in recent weeks, programs like Medicare Part D help individuals access needed medicines, and adhering to a prescription regimen can help avoid hospital visits and other costly care.
A recent study published in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy found adherent patients with hypertension saved $5,824 annually in health care expenditures compared to their non-adherent counterparts, or approximately nine to 28 percent of total health care costs.
These savings can make all the difference, like it did for Terri from Alaska. For her, Medicare Part D is a vital safety net; she relies on the program to help her get the medicines she needs to treat high blood pressure and without it, she says, her family would have to sacrifice daily living essentials to manage her health.
Others have shared similar experiences. Dawn says Part D empowered her to go to the doctor and get the treatments she needs for high blood pressure, and Carl and Corazon shared similar stories.
Has Part D improved your quality of life? If so, we want to hear about it. Please leave your story below and follow #MedicareMonday on Facebook and Twitter for more about how the program is helping individuals get the medicines they need to live longer, healthier lives.
Read other Medicare Monday posts.
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