In a recent national survey conducted by TelyRx on behalf of Centiment, 58% of U.S. adults who regularly take prescription medication said they have either run out of or deliberately rationed their doses over the past year. The study, which collected 1,256 completed responses between July 8 and August 3, 2026, highlights the growing financial and logistical challenges many patients face when trying to stay on their prescribed treatment plans.
Key findings from the survey
Among the 734 respondents who reported skipping or rationing medication, 79% said this had happened more than once in the last twelve months. When asked about the longest stretch without a dose, 59% reported going two to six days without medication, while 28% said they had gone a week or longer.
When participants were asked to identify the single biggest barrier to consistent access, no single issue dominated. However, high out‑of‑pocket costs for brand‑name drugs emerged as a major concern, especially as the price of everyday necessities continues to rise.
Health risks and communication gaps
More than half (63%) of those who skipped doses said the medication was important to their health, and 19% believed that missing a dose could lead to hospitalization or even death. Despite these risks, 46% did not inform their health‑care provider right away after missing a dose, and 19% never told their provider at all.
Reasons for not notifying providers included expecting a refill soon (37%) and believing it wasn’t necessary to disclose immediately (36%). The survey also uncovered systemic obstacles such as insurance coverage changes, prior‑authorization delays and drug shortages that can force patients to restart approval processes mid‑year.
Patient adaptations and systemic limits
When faced with medication delays, 72% of respondents said they had made at least one change to improve refill consistency. Most of these adjustments were logistical—setting reminders, using mail‑order services, or coordinating with pharmacies—rather than systemic. Only 11% were able to switch insurance providers to obtain more reliable medication access.
Pharmacy manager Ashley Robinson, PharmD, emphasized that “Patients on critical medications typically know exactly what’s at stake,” and that insurance‑related hiccups can slowly push people toward skipping doses.
What can be done?
The survey suggests several proactive steps that could help reduce medication rationing. These include clearer communication from insurers about coverage changes, streamlined prior‑authorization processes, and expanded access to affordable generic alternatives. While individual patients can adopt reminder systems and explore mail‑order options, broader policy reforms are needed to address the root causes of medication gaps.
As the nation continues to grapple with rising health‑care costs, the TelyRx findings serve as a reminder that ensuring reliable access to prescription medication is essential for public health and for protecting families from preventable medical crises.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
