48% of Americans Have Been Unable to Fill a Needed Prescription Due to Cost

Survey by Navitus Health Solutions finds 88% believe prescription drug pricing should be a priority for the next administration.

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Navitus Health Solutions, a pioneering pharmacy solutions provider, today released the findings of a survey of 2,000 Americans, revealing that 48% reported that the price of medication had affected their ability to get a medicine they needed at least once. The survey looked at consumer attitudes around drug pricing and awareness around issues impacting pricing. Notably, 88% believe prescription drug pricing should be a priority for the next administration following the election.

The survey unveiled that a surprising number of Americans struggle to pay for the medications they need to stay healthy every month. Key findings include:

• 89% of Americans think healthcare consumers in the United States pay more than other countries.
• 42% of Americans want more transparency around lower cost medications available.
• 43% have had to change their medication because it wasn't covered by insurance.
• 93% would consider using a lower-cost medication if one was available and equivalent to a drug their doctor prescribed.

Over 275 million Americans are served by a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), which act as intermediaries in the healthcare system designed to help negotiate discounts and pricing with drug manufacturers. Despite PBMs' direct influence on drug prices, the survey found that 75% of respondents don't know what a PBM is, and 94% couldn't name one. In addition, 88% of respondents who receive health insurance through their employer didn't know their employers' PBM and 89% had never received any communication from their employer regarding its choice in PBM, demonstrating the lack of awareness and transparency for most Americans into how their drug prices are set and managed.

"Despite all the recent negative media attention around traditional PBMs, which fill 94% of prescriptions in the U.S., the average American isn't aware of how these companies operate," said David Fields, CEO of Navitus Health Solutions. "The traditional PBM model generates profit by creating margin within the drug supply chain. Consumers are commonly unaware and uninformed about the impact of those actions on prescription drug prices. American healthcare consumers want lower prices. Healthcare consumers and political leaders want transparency. Innovation to this end is what the Navitus PBM has championed for over 20 years. Not all PBMs are alike. Ours is meaningfully driving lower costs and enabling transparent drug pricing while others are continuing to conspire to keep drug prices high for their benefit."

Navitus is an alternative to the traditional PBM model. This year the company released its 8th annual Drug Trend Report, one of the only PBMs that produces such a report, reinforcing its commitment to 100% transparency.

To download the full survey results, visit: https://blog.navitus.com/customer-attitudes-around-prescription-drug-pricing.

Survey Methodology

The data was derived from a survey by Navitus Health Solutions conducted online via Pollfish on October 2, 2024. 2,000 Americans aged 18+ completed the survey.

Of the respondents, 56% identified as female and 43% as male. All decimals in this report are rounded to the nearest percentage point, which may lead to certain numerical totals adding up to slightly more or less than 100%.

About Navitus Health Solutions

Navitus Health Solutions is a pioneering pharmacy solutions provider that first launched a transparent pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) to pass through 100% of negotiated drug rebates and discounts to health plans and plan sponsors. The Navitus PBM is an alternative to traditional PBMs which divert rebates and discounts for profit. It leads the way in driving meaningful cost savings to help make medications more affordable. Now, more than 20 years later, the organization delivers a range of solutions through portfolio brands including Navitus, EpiphanyRx, Lumicera and Archimedes. Owned by SSM Health and Costco Wholesale, Navitus Health Solutions serves over 14 million member lives across 800 clients including employers, unions, government plans, payors and health systems. For more information, please visit www.navitus.com.