Back To ArticlesMany Pennsylvanians struggle with high prescription drug costs. In the second Pennsylvania-specific survey on healthcare affordability released in 2021, it’s clear that the problem is widespread and serious:
- 1 in 2 Pennsylvanians is worried about affording the cost of prescription drugs.
- 1 in 5 did not fill a prescription, cut pills in half, or skipped a dose of medicine in the past year.
- 28% of rural adults did not fill a prescription, cut pills in half, or skipped a dose of medicine in the past year compared to 17% of non-rural adults.
- Across party lines, 9 out of 10 believed that lawmakers should take action to remedy this situation.
Pennsylvanians Want to See Change
Pennsylvanians agree that this is not the way healthcare is supposed to work. Across party lines, more than 3 in 4 said the healthcare system needs to change. Changes endorsed by respondents included: expanding affordable health insurance options (93%), making it easier to switch insurers if a health plan drops your doctor (93%), showing what a fair price would be for specific procedures (92%), requiring insurers to provide upfront cost estimates to consumers (91%).
In particular, drug companies were the most frequently cited as being a “major reason” for high healthcare costs (70%).
About the Survey
This survey, the Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey, was done by Altarum’s Healthcare Value Hub with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Altarum chose the Pennsylvania Health Access Network as its state partner to release the results. More information about the survey methodology can be found here.