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Comparing Rural and Urban Medicare Part D Enrollment Patterns and Prescription Drug Coverage Rates

Publication Date: May 14th, 2013
Publication Type(s): Policy Brief
Topic(s): , ,
Author(s): Jonk, Y., O'Connor, H., Casey, M., Moscovice, I.

Publication Date: May 2013

This study examined Medicare Part D enrollment rates in rural and urban areas and the resulting impact on rural beneficiaries’ overall prescription drug coverage rates.

Key Findings

  • Overall Medicare Part D enrollment rates increased from 55.5% in 2006, the first year of the program, to 61.4% in 2009. Annual increases were between 1 and 5 percentage points.
  • Rural Part D enrollment rates consistently lagged behind urban rates by 2 to 4 percentage points, increasing from 53.7% in 2006 to 58.6% in 2009, compared to urban rates increasing from 56.0% to 62.3%, respectively.
  • Geographic disparities in prescription coverage have greatly diminished over time: by 2009, prescription drug coverage rates topped 90% in both rural and urban areas.Rates of continuous uninsurance are approaching all-time lows of 7% in rural areas and 4% in urban areas.
  • Independent of geographic location, there is strong evidence of less-healthy beneficiaries enrolling in the Part D program, and no evidence of the Part D program crowding out private prescription drug coverage.

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