A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll reveals how difficult it is for people taking prescription drugs to afford their medications. And, a majority of Democrats and Republicans alike support a policy that would bring down prescription drugs prices to the same level as prices in other wealthy countries, international reference pricing. They believe that prescription drug costs are unreasonable and do not trust pharmaceutical companies to price their drugs fairly
International reference pricing would cut prescription drug costs in the United States in half. It would make it less difficult for people who need costly prescriptions to afford them. Congressman Ro Khanna and Senator Bernie Sanders recently introduced an international reference pricing bill. The Medicare for All Act of 2019, just introduced by Representative Pramila Jayapal and 107 co-sponsors would also bring down drug prices significantly and cover the full cost of everyone’s medications.
Today, almost a quarter of Americans, including 23 percent of older adults, find it difficult to pay for their prescription drugs. And, one in ten Americans, including older adults, find it very difficult. Nearly 60 percent of people needing prescription drugs that cost them more than $100 a month struggle to pay for their medicines. More than one in three people with annual incomes under $40,000 also have difficulty paying for their medicines.
Overall, nearly three in ten people say they do not take their prescriptions as intended because they cost too much. Of those, 8 percent report declining health as a result of failing to take their medicines as prescribed.
If you want Congress to rein in drug prices, please sign this petition.
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