Background Most Adults 50-Plus Take Prescriptions ... - AARP

2019 PRESCRIPTION DRUG SURVEY ¡ª LIKELY VOTERS

Background

AARP conducted a national survey of 1,218 likely voters age 50 and older between February 15 and March 4, 2019 to

evaluate their current use and experience with prescription medications as well as their thoughts regarding proposals aimed

at reducing the prices of prescription drugs.

This population is keenly interested in the prescription drug price issue with the vast majority (80%) saying they take at

least one prescription medication and seven in ten (72%) saying they are concerned about the cost of their medications. A

majority (60%) say prescription drug costs are unreasonable and many indicate they have or will need to make trade-offs

in order to afford their medications. Virtually all (regardless of party affiliation) are in favor of various proposals designed

to reduce the prices of prescription drugs including making it easier for generic drugs to come to market (93%) and allowing

Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices (92%).

Most Adults 50-Plus Take Prescriptions on a Daily Basis

80%

# of Prescription Medications

80% of likely voters report they take prescription drugs

on a regular basis.

1

2 to 3

4 to 5

6 to 10

11 or more

98% of those who report taking a prescription drug

indicate they take medications on a daily basis.

18%

35%

23%

17%

5%

35% of those who report taking a prescription drug say

they take 2 to 3 prescriptions on a regular basis.

More Than Three in Five Say Prices of Prescription Drugs Are Unreasonable

When asked how reasonable or unreasonable they consider the prices of prescription medications, more than three in five

(63%) say they consider them unreasonable (either a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale). Two in five (39%) say they did not fill

a prescription provided by their doctor. The main reason for not filling a prescription was cost.

% Rx Prices Unreasonable

(4 - 5 out of 5)

63%

67%

Tot.

(n=1218)

Dem.

(n=499)

53%

Rep.

(n=366)

% Cost Reason for NOT Filling Rx

70%

71%

74%

67%

72%

Ind.

(n=338)

Tot.

(n=414)

Dem.

(n=173)

Rep.

(n=119)

Ind.

(n=117)

Majority: Rx Companies Make Too Much Profit and Spend Too Much on Advertising

Consumers agree prescription drug companies focus more on profits and marketing than on helping people.

% Agree

89%

90%

% Agree

88%

90%

81%

Tot.

Dem.

(n=1218) (n=499)

Rep.

(n=366)

% Agree

Ind.

(n=338)

Rx companies make too much profit

76%

Tot.

Dem.

(n=1218) (n=499)

82%

85%

Rep.

(n=366)

Ind.

(n=338)

Rx companies spend too much on advertising

RESEARCH | ? 2019 AARP ALL RIGHTS

RESERVED

79%

81%

Tot.

Dem.

(n=1218) (n=499)

78%

77%

Rep.

(n=366)

Ind.

(n=338)

Rx companies are too concerned about making profits

and not concerned enough about helping people

|

1

Prescription Drug Prices Here¡­and Elsewhere ¡ª Most Say U.S. Consumers Pay More

Over four in five (85%) consumers in the United States believe they either definitely pay more (47%) or probably pay more

(38%) for prescription drugs compared to consumers in other developed countries. Just 12 percent think they pay the same

or less than in other countries.

47%

36%

52%

Definitely pay more

53%

Probably pay more

Pay same or less

45%

38%

35%

12%

10%

17%

Total (n=1218)

Democrat (n=499)

Republican (n=366)

Don't know

37%

9%

Independent (n=338)

High Concern About Prescription Drug Costs and Needing to Make Trade-Offs

72%

72% say they are very or somewhat concerned about being able to afford prescription medications for themselves or

their family in the next few years. When thinking about the future, roughly four in ten (between 38% and 47%) who are not

currently making these trade-offs, agree that if prescription prices continue to rise, they may need to make numerous

trade-offs to be able to afford their medications. For example, 38% say in the future, they may have to cut back on

necessities like food, fuel, and electricity to be able to afford a prescription drug.

Top CURRENT Trade-Offs Made to Be Able to Purchase Prescription Drugs

Many people face difficult decisions when buying prescription drugs. In the past

12 months, have you or someone in your household¡­

% ¡°Yes¡±

Total

Democrat Republican Independent

(n=1218) (n=499)

(n=366)

(n=338)

Delayed getting a prescription filled because you didn¡¯t have enough money to pay

for it?

24%

28%

19%

25%

Not gotten a prescription filled because you didn¡¯t have enough money to pay for it?

23%

25%

18%

27%

Taken less medicine than your doctor prescribed to make it last longer?

23%

27%

16%

24%

Top FUTURE Trade-Offs Made to Be Able to Purchase Prescription Drugs

*If prescription costs continue to rise, as I get older, there may come a time

when¡­

% ¡°Strongly Agree¡± or ¡°Agree¡±

Total

Democrat Republican Independent

(n=1218) (n=499)

(n=366)

(n=338)

I may have to shop online at either a U.S. or Canadian pharmacy for a lower price on

prescription drugs.

47%

49%

40%

54%

I may have to purchase an over-the-counter medicine instead of a prescription to

treat a condition.

42%

45%

36%

48%

I may have to delay getting a prescription filled because I don¡¯t have enough money

to pay for it.

39%

39%

36%

42%

I may have to cut back on necessities like food, fuel, and electricity to be able to

afford a prescription drug.

38%

43%

35%

36%

*Asked if did not say currently making this trade-off.

RESEARCH | ? 2019 AARP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

AARP RESEARCH

|

2

Nearly All Favor Proposals to Cut Prescription Drug Prices

Overwhelming majorities favor proposals aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. Over nine in ten favor making it easier

for generic drugs to come to market (93%) and allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices (92%).

% of Likely Voters Age 50+ Indicating ¡°Strongly Favor¡± or ¡°Somewhat Favor¡± (Total and by Party)

Make it easier for generic drugs to come to market.

93%

91%

95%

95%

Allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for

lower prices.

92%

90%

93%

95%

Require drug companies to publicly disclose how

prices are set.

88%

88%

86%

90%

Allow states to negotiate with drug companies for

lower prices.

88%

86%

90%

90%

Close loopholes that allow drug companies to extend

the time before other companies can make generic

versions of their prescription drugs.

84%

83%

85%

87%

Cap how much Americans have to pay out of pocket

for their prescriptions.

82%

84%

80%

80%

Allow consumers in the U.S. to purchase prescription

drugs from other countries if they can be purchased

safely and less expensively than here in the U.S.

81%

77%

81%

85%

Protect the deal Congress made to require drug

companies pay more to lower drug costs for seniors

with the highest drug costs.

79%

79%

82%

79%

Total (n=1218)

Democrat (n=499)

Republican (n=366)

Independent (n=338)

For more information, contact Cheryl L. Lampkin at clampkin@. For media inquiries, contact media@.

RESEARCH | ? 2019 AARP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

AARP RESEARCH

|

3

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download