Medicare Part D Subsidy Expansion Reduces Medication Non-Adherence By 5.5 Percentage Points

Following a 2024 expansion of Medicare Part D low-income subsidies (LIS), cost-related medication non-adherence declined by 5.5 percentage points among previously ineligible older adults with cardiovascular disease or related risk factors.

The expansion, implemented under the Inflation Reduction Act, increased eligibility for full LIS benefits from 135% to 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL), extending financial assistance for prescription drug costs (premiums, deductibles, and copayments) to a broader group of Medicare beneficiaries. Before 2024, LIS was available only to beneficiaries with income at or below135% FPL.

The analysis was based on data from the National . . .