Study Data from University of Toronto Provide New Insights into Health and Society (Socioeconomic differences in prescription drug supplemental coverage in Canada: A repeated cross-sectional study)

2020 FEB 26 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Data detailed on Health and Medicine - Health and Society have been presented. According to news reporting originating in Toronto, Canada, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Efforts to achieve universal healthcare coverage are fraught with challenges, not only in low-and middle-income countries but also in high-income ones. Canada, for example, is the only high-income country with universal health insurance that does not include universal coverage for prescription drugs.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of Toronto, “We first described the extent to which Canadians reported supplementary drug insurance coverage (public or private). Second, we examined associations between individuals’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and self-reported drug insurance coverage. We used logistic regressions and repeated cross-sectional data from two national (2015, 2016) and six Ontario (2005, 2008, 2013-2016) cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey. We found large socioeconomic differences in the reporting of prescription drug insurance coverage. Individuals of lower socioeconomic status had higher odds of reporting public drug coverage or no coverage while those of higher socioeconomic status had higher odds of reporting private coverage. Respondents’ reports indicated that public drug plans were more likely to cover those in poorer health while private plans were more likely to cover those in very good or excellent health. We also documented substantial underreporting of public drug coverage. which may also have access implications.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Both the lack of prescription drug insurance and misunderstandings about one’s insurance coverage point to limits in Canada’s drug insurance system.”

For more information on this research see: Socioeconomic differences in prescription drug supplemental coverage in Canada: A repeated cross-sectional study. Health Policy, 2019;():. Health Policy can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ireland LTD, Customer Relations Manager, Bay 15, Shannon Industrial Estate CO, Clare, Ireland. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Health Policy - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/health-policy/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting E.X. Guo, Dept. of Economics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Additional authors for this research include A. Sweetman and G.E Guindon.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.12.007. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

The publisher of the journal Health Policy can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ireland LTD, Customer Relations Manager, Bay 15, Shannon Industrial Estate CO, Clare, Ireland.

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