Validity of self-reported prescription drug insurance coverage.
OBJECTIVE
This article assesses the validity of prescription drug insurance coverage as self-reported in the 1996/97 National Population Health Survey (NPHS).


METHODS
The data are from the cross-sectional household component of Statistics Canada's 1996/97 NPHS.


METHODS
Most seniors and all social assistance recipients are entitled to prescription drug benefits from their provincial governments. For NPHS respondents eligible for such benefits, the percentage reporting coverage in 1996/97 was calculated. Logit regression was used to assess the determinants of self-reported coverage.


RESULTS
Only 51% of seniors and 46% of social assistance recipients who were eligible for provincial benefits reported drug insurance coverage in 1996/97. The probability of reporting coverage was generally higher in provinces with drug programs that did not impose deductibles.
Grootendorst
Paul
P
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S2. paul.grootendorst@utoronto.ca
Newman
Edward C
EC
Levine
Mitchell A H
MA
D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011336:Probability; D012650:Self Disclosure