Rising costs mean seniors are skipping vital medication
MORE than 20% of Australians aged between 50 and 64 are skipping medicine doses due to mounting costs, a survey of seniors released on Wednesday has revealed.
The National Seniors survey of 3188 older Australians also showed 12% of over-65s were doing the same.
National Seniors chief executive Michael O'Neill advocated more government concessions for seniors' medication costs, saying it could become an election issues.
"The findings confirm the vital role social security cards - such as the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and the Pensioner Concession Card - play in ensuring affordable medicines for the over-65s," he said.
"The story would be very different without the government concessions.
"Older Australians are skipping pills or taking smaller doses to help their dollar go further.
"Even greater proportions are looking for cheaper alternatives, while others just aren't filling their prescriptions at all," said O'Neill.
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