Rx Partnership (RxP) addresses the need for prescription medications for those Virginians who have no health insurance, or whose health insurance does not cover prescription drugs. According to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, nearly 47 million Americans under 65 lacked health insurance coverage in 2006, an increase of 2.1 million from the previous year, and the number of uninsured continues to grow.
In Virginia alone, more than 1 million people currently have no health insurance. While paying for prescription medication is a burden for many, it is impossible for some. In fact, according to the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF), more than one in four (27%) uninsured Virginians goes without needed medications because they cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions.
Who are the Uninsured?
Most of the uninsured are low-income, hardworking adults who cannot afford the high cost of health care. According to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, more than two-thirds (69%) of uninsured people work full-time or come from families in which at least one person works full-time. Low-income people have the greatest risk of being uninsured; one out of every three people from low-income families with a full-time worker is uninsured. The number of uninsured rises every year, and the high cost of health care makes it increasingly difficult for these hard-working adults to access the health care and prescription medication they desperately need.
Facts about Virginia’s Uninsured from the VHCF:
- Most of the uninsured are under the age of 65. (Medicare provides health insurance for most people 65 and over)
- Virginia's uninsured represent diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds: 49% are white, 25% are African-American, 19% are Hispanic, and 7% classified themselves as "other"
- The overwhelming majority of Virginians without insurance are U.S. citizens (82.7%)
Effects on the Health of the Community
The lack of health insurance has tremendous, negative repercussions in our communities and across the nation. Patients who are unable to afford their prescriptions skip doses, split pills or otherwise fail to comply with the medication regimen that would improve their condition. This causes conditions that could have been controlled to worsen and to cause additional issues for the patient. Longer term, the consequences include extended needs for all types of medical care, such as costly emergency room visits and hospitalizations; increased time lost from work; decreased quality of life; late diagnosis of diseases; and even shortened life spans. In fact, according to the Families USA report Dying for Coverage in Virginia, an estimated more than 10 working-age Virginians die each week due to lack of health insurance.
A Single Change: Rx Partnership
Rx Partnership creates a streamlined and cost-effective process that helps connect pharmaceutical companies to free clinics and community health centers in Virginia, resulting in the shipment of free medication for eligible, uninsured people who need it. Patients suffering from a variety of acute and chronic illnesses are able to access the medication they need, free and without a wait.