Many Americans Unable to Afford Medications, Navitus Survey Finds

The cost of prescription drugs continues to be a key issue for Americans. In a new survey of 2,000 people, many say price has affected their ability to get a medicine they needed at least once. The survey conducted by Navitus Health Solutions looked at consumer attitudes around drug pricing and awareness around issues impacting pricing.

In the survey, 48% reported that the price of medication had affected their ability to get a medicine they needed at least once, and few understand the role of pharmacy benefit managers.

David Fields

“American healthcare consumers want lower prices. Healthcare consumers and political leaders want transparency,” David Fields, CEO of Navitus Health Solutions, said in a news release. “Despite all the recent negative media attention around traditional PBMs, which fill 94% of prescriptions in the United States, the average American isn’t aware of how these companies operate.”

The survey, which was conducted online via Pollfish on Oct. 2, 2024 of those aged 18 and older, also found that 75% of respondents don’t know what a PBM is, and 84% couldn’t name one.

Other key findings include:

• 89% of Americans think healthcare consumers in the United States pay more than other countries.
• 45% haven’t filled a prescription due to cost.
• 43% have had to change medications because it wasn’t covered by insurance
• 50% have used a cost savings options such as discount cards

This isn’t the first survey to highlight the impact of the cost of medications on consumers. A survey done last year by KFF found costs were a key concern, especially for those who are taking four or more prescriptions; 37% of these respondents say they have difficulty affording their prescriptions, compared with 18% who currently take three or fewer prescription medications. Those with household incomes of less than the $40,000 are more likely to report difficulty affording medications, according to the KFF survey.

Additionally, 31% adults in the KFF report not taking their medicines as prescribed at some point in the past year because of the cost. This includes 21% who report they have not filled a prescription or took an over-the counter drug instead, and 12% who say they have cut pills in half or skipped a dose because of the cost.

More broadly, KFF has found in separate survey that almost 3 in 4 people said they worry about unexpected healthcare costs more than everyday expenses. The survey from February 2024 found that 86% worry about the cost of healthcare services and 83% said they are worried about medical bills. Many also worry about financial debt; 70% of adults are very or somewhat worried a medical or dental bill will put them into debt.

Related: How Employers Are Trying To Tame Healthcare Costs

It’s not just consumers who are concerned about the impact of drug prices. Employers are planning for prescription drug costs to increase 8% in 2025, with specialty drug trend projected to be 13.3%, according to benefits and HR consulting firm Segal.

Additionally payers have questioned whether pharmacy benefit managers are working on payers’ behalf, according to survey released last month. This survey, conducted by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, more than half (52%) of the survey respondents indicated that they are considering changing their pharmacy benefit manager. Almost two-thirds (65%) respondents indicated that they are using nontraditional pharmacy procurement to counter high-cost claims.