Allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries and people enrolled in private plans – a key cost-saving proposal in the Democrats’ massive reconciliation bill – is favored by large majorities across political partisans, even after they hear arguments from both sides, a new KFF Health Tracking Poll finds.
Initially 83% of the public say they favor allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to lower drug prices on behalf of people enrolled in Medicare beneficiaries and private plans. This includes 91% of Democrats, 85% of independents, and 76% of Republicans, as well as majorities of seniors (84%), who would be most affected by such a provision.
To gauge the potential impact of a national debate over the proposal, the survey asked the public to assess a summary of key arguments being made for and against the plan. Those arguments do little to move the share of the public that favors or opposes the proposal, though affected the intensity of support among Republicans. CONTINUED
Kaiser Family Foundation
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