The elderly are prescribed a disproportionate amount of medications relative to their population size. Currently the elderly comprise 12% of the United States population yet receive 32% of all prescription drugs dispensed. There are several reasons why this disparity occurs. Perhaps the most obvious explanation is that there is a greater prevalence of chronic illness among the elderly. In one study, more than 40% of respondents reported between four to seven chronic conditions and an average of 3.7 symptoms. This high rate of illness translates into a greater number of medications being prescribed. In the 1987 National Medical Care and Expenditure Survey it was determined that Medicare beneficiaries filled an average of 14.7 prescriptions per year. This average, however, does not necessarily mean 14 different prescriptions, since the total number of prescriptions is inclusive of refills for the same medication.