This statistic shows the percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area (MSA) status. During that year, 6.7 percent of adults living in a small MSA had needed a prescription but could not afford it in the past twelve months.
Percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area status*
Characteristic
Percentage of adults
Not in MSA
6.7%
Small MSA
6.7%
Large MSA
6.4%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Percentage of adults6.7%6.7%6.7%6.7%6.4%6.4%Not in MSASmall MSALarge MSA
0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%
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Percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area status*
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*Percentages are adjusted for age, sex, race and Hispanic ethnicity, health insurance status, poverty level, state Medicaid expansion status, and health status. A usual place to go for medical care does not include a hospital emergency room.
Original questions: “During the past 12 months, was there any time when you needed any of the following, but didn’t get it because you couldn’t afford it? … Prescription medicines.”
MSA: metropolitan statistical area. Large MSA: population of 1 million or more. Small MSA: population of less than 1 million.
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NCHS. (December 4, 2019). Percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area status* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 01, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085329/adults-who-could-not-afford-a-prescription-in-the-past-year-us-by-msa-status/
NCHS. "Percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area status*." Chart. December 4, 2019. Statista. Accessed March 01, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085329/adults-who-could-not-afford-a-prescription-in-the-past-year-us-by-msa-status/
NCHS. (2019). Percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area status*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 01, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085329/adults-who-could-not-afford-a-prescription-in-the-past-year-us-by-msa-status/
NCHS. "Percentage of Adults Who Needed a Prescription Drug but Could Not Afford It in The past 12 Months in The U.S. in 2017, by Metropolitan Statistical Area Status*." Statista, Statista Inc., 4 Dec 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085329/adults-who-could-not-afford-a-prescription-in-the-past-year-us-by-msa-status/
NCHS, Percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area status* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085329/adults-who-could-not-afford-a-prescription-in-the-past-year-us-by-msa-status/ (last visited March 01, 2025)
Percentage of adults who needed a prescription drug but could not afford it in the past 12 months in the U.S. in 2017, by metropolitan statistical area status* [Graph], NCHS, December 4, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085329/adults-who-could-not-afford-a-prescription-in-the-past-year-us-by-msa-status/
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