Abstract
This paper evaluates the effect of prescription drug insurance coverage on prescription drug use among the elderly. Estimates were obtained using multivariate regression and a fixed-effects (within-person) research design that controls for unmeasured person-specific effects that may confound the relationships of interest. Estimates showed prescription drug coverage was associated with a 4% to 10% increase in the utilization of prescription drugs, depending on the type and generosity of the coverage.
