By

Teresa A. Keenan, AARP Research

Most midlife and older adults take prescription drugs and continue to be concerned about affording them.

Most (82 percent) adults 50 and older report taking prescription medication regularly, with the majority (81 percent) reporting that they did not skip filling a prescription due to cost.

they or a family member may need in the next few years (62 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of Independents vs. 53 percent of Republicans register concern).

They are also more likely to say they are extremely or very concerned that the high cost of prescription drugs could negatively impact their health or the health of someone in their

household (32 percent of Democrats and 42 percent of Independents vs. 24 percent of Republicans).

Nearly all would like to see governmental action to address prescription drug costs, with limited variation by political affiliation.

Nearly all adults (96 percent) 50 and older believe it is important for the government to do more to lower prescription drug prices. Similarly, nearly all (94 percent) consider it important

for the newly elected Congress and incoming Trump administration to prioritize lowering prescription drug costs.

Democrats are more likely than both Republicans and Independents to say it is extremely important (63 percent vs. 28 percent of Republicans and 44 percent of Independents). Notably,

Republicans also consider it important for the government to do more to lower prescription drug prices, albeit with a lower stated intensity than their counterparts — they are more likely

than Democrats to say it is very (42 percent vs. 30 percent) or somewhat important (24 percent vs. 6 percent) to do so.

Similarly, when considering the importance of lowering prescription drug prices by the new Congress and the Trump administration, Democrats are more likely than both Republicans and

Independents to say it is extremely important (59 percent vs. 24 percent of Republicans and 45 percent of Independents). Republicans again show a lower stated intensity than their

counterparts, with roughly four in ten (39 percent) Republicans saying that it is very important compared to one-quarter of Independents (25 percent) and three in ten (29 percent) Democrats

who say so.

When asked to select their top priority (among three) for Congress to address in the next year, nearly half (46 percent) of U.S. adults 50 and older say they would like Congress to address

lowering prescription drug prices in the next year, while an identical percentage (46 percent) would prefer it focus on funding the federal government for the full year. Notably, there are

no significant differences by political affiliation.

Protecting Medicare’s ability to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices is also considered vital, again with limited variation by political affiliation.

U.S. adults 50 and older overwhelmingly believe (97 percent) it is important for Congress and the administration to protect Medicare’s ability to negotiate for lower prescription drug

prices. As with the other questions about governmental action, Democrats are more likely than both Independents and Republicans to say it is extremely important to protect Medicare’s ability

to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices (70 percent of Democrats vs. 48 percent of Independents and 37 percent of Republicans). Republicans are more likely than either Independents

or Democrats to say that it is very important (42 percent vs. 22 percent and 24 percent).

Methodology

These findings are based on a survey conducted in December 2024 to learn more about the views of midlife and older adults on the costs of prescription drugs and what they would like Congress

and the incoming Trump administration to do to address them. The sample of 1,016 Americans 50 and older was based on data weighted to the latest Current Population Survey (CPS) benchmarks

developed by the U.S. Census Bureau and are balanced by gender, age, education, race/ethnicity, and region. The final weighted data reflect the U.S. population of adults 50 and over.

The study was conducted using the NORC Foresight 50+ Panel among a sample of U.S. adults 50 and older using a combination of phone and online sampling. The survey interviews averaged six

minutes in length. The interviews were conducted in English December 12–16, 2024.

For more information, please contact Teresa A. Keenan at [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at [email protected].

Suggested citation:

Keenan, Teresa A. Post-Election Views on Prescription Drugs Among Adults Ages 50 and Older. Washington, DC: AARP Research, January 2025. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00912.003

MORE FROM AARP

Online Pharmacy and Discount Drug Programs Help Cut Costs

Online pharmacies and discount drug programs are helping midlife adults cuts prescription drug costs and satisfaction and likelihood of future use is high.

Most Medicare Part D enrollees who reach the new $2,000 out-of-pocket spending cap will see substantial savings despite premium changes

This updated analysis estimates that 94 percent of all Part D enrollees expected to reach the new $2,000 out-of-pocket cap in 2025 will have lower total (i.e., premiums plus cost sharing)

out-of-pocket costs, averaging $2,474 in savings.

Prices for Top Medicare Part D Drugs Have Nearly Doubled Since Entering the Market

This Spotlight highlights the importance of the drug pricing-related provisions in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act by examining how the prices of 25 top Part D drugs have changed since each

product entered the market.

Prescription Drug Costs Concern New Hampshire Residents

New Hampshire residents support importing medications from Canada and elsewhere, along with implementing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

Prescription Drug Prices Are a Concern for New York State Voters

Though most likely voters in New York state have not skipped filling a prescription the last two year, most are worried about affording prescription drugs.

{ "maxItems":5, "itemsPerRow":"3", "rows":"4", "loadMore":"6", "adsNum":"0", "resultsLength":"5" }