1. Public opinion on prescription drugs and their prices
Poll findings from 2015 – 2017 Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls

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

3. Over half of Americans report currently taking at least one prescription medicine
55%
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 14-20, 2016)

4. 1 in 5 Americans say they take four or more prescription drugs+
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 14-20, 2016)

5. say affording them is easy.
77%
say the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable…
…but among those currently taking prescription drugs…
73%
say affording them is easy.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 14-20, 2016)

6. More prescriptions mean more problems
Percent who say it is difficult for them to afford to pay the cost of their prescription medicines: {Sept 2016}
Percent who say they or a family member has not filled a prescription, has cut pills in half, or skipped doses because of cost: {Aug 2015}
Those taking 1-3 prescription drugs -
Those taking 4 or more prescription drugs +
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls (conducted August 6-11, 2015 and September 14-20, 2016)

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: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted December 13-19, 2016)

8. 74% of the public says they think people in this country pay higher prices than people in
Cymbalta, a drug commonly prescribed for anxiety and depression, costs an average of $194 in the U.S. but $110 in Canada and $76 in Switzerland
Canada,
Celebrex, a drug commonly prescribed for pain, costs an average of $225 in the U.S. but $51 in Canada and $138 in Switzerland
Mexico,
SOURCE: International Federation of Health Plans 2013 Comparative Price Report
and Western Europe
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted August 6-11, 2015)

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

10. 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: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted June 2-9, 2015)

11. Most Americans favor several steps to lower drug costs
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted April 17-23, 2016)

12. 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: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted April 17-23, 2016)

13. market competition over government regulation,
When asked which 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: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted August 6-11, 2015)

14. 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: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 14-20, 2015)

15. Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Menlo Park, California.
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