1. Public opinion on prescription drugs and their prices
Poll findings from KFF Health Tracking Polls

2. Over half of Americans report currently taking at least one prescription medicine
58%
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted March 8-13, 2018)

3. 1 in 4 Americans say they take four or more prescription drugs+
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted March 8-13, 2018)

4. say affording them is easy.
80%
say the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable…
…but among those currently taking prescription drugs…
74%
say affording them is easy.
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted March 8-13, 2018)

5. For many, more prescriptions mean more problems with cost
Among those taking 1-3 prescription drugs -
Among those taking 4 or more prescription drugs +
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Polls (March 8-13, 2018)

6. For many, more prescriptions mean more problems with skipping meds
Percent who say they or a family member has not filled a prescription, has cut pills in half, or skipped doses because of cost:
Among those taking 1-3 prescription drugs -
Among those taking 4 or more prescription drugs +
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Polls (conducted August 6-11, 2015)

7. Percent who say that because of cost, in the past year, they or a family member has…
…cut pills in half or skipped doses:
…not filled a prescription:
By insurance status
By income
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted December 13-19, 2016)

8. Pharmaceutical Companies Among the Top of the Public’s List of Having Too Much Influence in Washington
Percent who say that each of the following have too much influence in Washington:
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted March 8-13, 2018)

9. of the public says that prescription drugs developed over the past 20 years have made the lives of people in the U.S. better
56%
{Sept 2016}
have an unfavorable opinion of pharmaceutical companies {Aug 2015}
53%
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Polls (conducted August 6-11, 2015 and September 14-20, 2016)

10. say they think drug companies make too much profit
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted August 6-11, 2015)

11. say pharmaceutical profits are a major factor contributing to prices.
77%
say pharmaceutical profits are a major factor contributing to prices.
Americans cite other major contributors to drug prices too, like the costs of medical research (64%) marketing and advertising (54%) lawsuits against drug companies (49%)
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted June 2-9, 2015)

12. Party Drives Who Public Trusts on Prescription Drug Costs, One-Third of Independents Trust Neither Party
Who do you trust to do a better job at lowering prescription drug costs?
Democrats
Independents
Republicans
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted March 8-13, 2018)

13. Most Americans favor several steps to lower drug costs
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted April 17-23, 2017)

14. A large majority agree importing Canadian prescription drugs would make medicines more affordable
Percent who agree…
…allowing Americans to buy prescription drugs imported from Canada…
…allowing Americans to buy prescription drugs from online pharmacies based in Canada…
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted April 17-23, 2017)

15. What would do a better job keeping prescription drug prices down?
The public has a slight preference
for market competition over government regulation
but views vary by party
Democrats
Independents
Republicans
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted August 6-11, 2015)

16. 62% of Americans think there is not as much regulation as there should be when it comes to limiting the price of prescription drugs.
That’s 73% of Democrats
62% of independents
and 54% of Republicans
SOURCE: KFF Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 14-20, 2015)

17. kff.org