What Is Medication Non Adherence?

Breaking Down the $300 Billion Problem in Healthcare 

Every day in America, people skip doses, delay refills, or stop taking their medications altogether. This behavior has a name: medication non-adherence, and it’s a public health crisis hiding in plain sight. 

Medication non-adherence refers to when a patient does not take their medication as prescribed. This could mean missing doses, taking the wrong amount, or stopping the medication entirely. While it may seem minor, the consequences are anything but. 

Poor adherence to prescribed therapies contributes to 125,000 preventable deaths in the U.S. every year. The cost to the healthcare system? More than $500 billion annually in avoidable costs such as medical appointments, ER visits, and hospitalizations.  

Why Do People Struggle to Take Their Medications?

The reasons behind non-adherence are complex, from financial barriers and side effects to forgetfulness or confusion about a medication’s importance. Traditional solutions often focus on solving these tactical challenges, like reducing cost or simplifying regimens. But what’s often overlooked is the human side: patients who feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or isolated. Emotional and social wellbeing play just as critical a role in whether someone stays on treatment. 

A recent national survey conducted by Pleio and PureSpectrum revealed a staggering link: 

• 52% of people with chronic conditions said that loneliness interfered with taking medications as prescribed. 

• Among patients on specialty medications, often managing serious or complex conditions, that number jumps to 70%. 

Medication non-adherence isn’t always a rational decision; it’s often an emotional one. In fact, the American Medical Association identified that five of the top eight barriers to medication adherence are emotional in nature. When patients feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsupported, even the best medication regimen can fall apart. 

Solving Non-Adherence Starts with Human Support 

At Pleio, we believe that adherence can’t always be achieved through just about reminders or instructions. Through our GoodStart program, patients are matched with trained peers who provide personalized support during the critical first weeks of a new therapy. They listen, encourage, and help patients feel connected and confident in their journey. 

Because the truth is: people don’t just need to know what to do, they need to feel like someone cares if they do it. 

Instead of asking why patients are non-adherent, we should be asking: 

• What’s happening in their lives that makes it hard to stay on track? 

• How can we make it easier to feel supported, heard, and empowered? 

Solving medication non-adherence means going beyond the prescription. It means building systems of care that see the whole person.