New poll of all 50 states and 435 Congressional Districts shows perils of so-called Medicare “negotiation”

A new large-scale survey of 20,000 Americans covering all states and Congressional districts shows a majority find health care coverage costs unreasonable and a top priority health care issue for policymakers to address today. At the same time, the survey conducted with Morning Consult also shows Americans reject so-called government “negotiation” once they learn it could restrict access and choice and chill the innovation of new treatments and cures.

Here is what you should know from the new survey, representative of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all Congressional districts:

Over 6 in 10 Americans reject price setting policies such as government “negotiation” once they learn it could sacrifice access, innovation and choice. A majority of Americans in every state and the District of Columbia oppose government “negotiation” as a way to address health care costs if it could:

• Take away power from doctors to prescribe the medicines that best meet the needs of their patients, and instead put the government in charge of those decisions – on average 66% oppose.
• Limit people’s access to newer prescription drugs – on average 64% oppose; and
• Reduce access to medicines for seniors and people with disabilities – on average 62% oppose.

*full state-by-state breakdown of results below
Click here for a breakdown of results by Congressional districts

Americans’ top issue priorities are the economy and COVID-19 recovery. When shifting focus to health care, however, coverage-related costs, specifically, out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance and insurance premiums is the top concern.

• Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia noted their top two priorities overall are the economy and COVID-19 pandemic recovery, with few exceptions.
• The bottom priorities noted are education, taxes and prescription drug prices, of the 11 priorities listed: No state or district listed prescription drug prices above 3% or above 10th on the list of 11 policy priorities.
• When it comes to health care, Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are most concerned with out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance (30% of respondents on average) and the cost of health insurance premiums (29%).
• When asked to prioritize health care costs, approximately two-thirds of Americans (64%) believe Congress should focus on reducing the cost of health care coverage (23% of Americans want them to focus on prescription drug costs, and 13% don’t know enough to say).
• Two-thirds (66%) of Americans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia find their out-of-pocket health care costs “unreasonable.”

The data show Americans want Congress to put emphasis on patient-centered solutions that address the real health care issues they face, like rising out-of-pocket costs and health insurance premiums, while preserving access, innovation and choice. Learn how at PhRMA.org/BetterWay.

Please click here for full survey memo, topline and methodology.

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* % oppose negotiation with information