MEMORANDUM
TO: Interested Parties
FR: Katherine Patterson, Public Policy Polling
DT: October 20, 2021
MEMO: Widespread Support in Key Congressional Districts for Medicare Negotiation to Lower Drug Prices, Other Key Health Provisions, and the Overall Build Back Better Plan
Four new Public Policy Polling surveys conducted among voters in four key Congressional Districts find strong bipartisan support for the key reforms to health care that are part of the Build Back Better plan that will lower drug costs and insurance premiums, expand Medicare benefits, and increase coverage. The districts polled are California’s 52nd Congressional District (represented by Scott Peters), Florida’s 7th Congressional District (represented by Stephanie Murphy), New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District (represented by Josh Gottheimer), and New York’s 4th Congressional District (represented by Kathleen Rice).
Overwhelming majorities of voters across party lines in each district support giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.
- 81% of CA-52 voters, 80% of FL-07 voters, 78% of NY-04 voters, and 77% of NJ05 voters say they support giving Medicare the power to lower prescription drug prices for all Americans, with a majority in each district saying they strongly support it.
- This includes support from a majority across party lines, including 86-94% of Democrats, 69-79% of independents and 64-70% of Republicans.
- An overwhelming majority of voters (87% in FL-7 and NJ-05, 86% in NY04, and 79% in CA-52) say they think the price of prescription drugs is too high, while just 6-11% think they are “about right.” 87% of NY-04 voters support making sure that Americans do not pay more for the same prescription drugs than what people pay in other countries, while just 5% oppose it. Those in support include 84% of independents and 83% of Republicans
- An overwhelming majority of voters in each district (90% in NJ-05, 87% in NY-04 and FL-07, and 83% in CA-52) support making sure that Americans do not pay more for the same prescription drugs than what people pay in other countries, while just 4-10% oppose it. Those in support include 84-86% of independents and 71- 90% of Republicans
- Voters reject the drug company argument that giving Medicare the power to negotiate will undermine innovation. A strong majority of voters in each district (77% in CA-52, 75% in FL-07, 74% in NJ-05, and 70% in NY-04) say they agree more that Medicare should be allowed to negotiate with drug companies to make drugs and medication more affordable to patients. Just 9-11% agree more with the drug company argument that by letting Medicare dictate prescription drug prices, drug companies’ ability to innovate and develop new drugs will be undercut.
Voters are also supportive of the other benefits the Build Back Better plan would offer for health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid:
- 70% of CA-52 voters, 65% of NY-04 and FL-07 voters, and 62% of NJ-05 voters support a plan in Congress to lower the health insurance costs for people who buy insurance on their own by expanding tax credits and subsidies. Just 10-16% overall are opposed. Like many of the previous initiatives, this attracts bipartisan support, including 58-72% of Republican voters and 60-66% of independents.
- 85% of FL-7 and NY-04 voters, 84% of CA-52 voters, and 83% of NJ-05 voters support using savings from lower drug prices to provide health care benefits for hearing, dental, and vision to seniors on Medicare, and lower insurance premiums for millions more. Supporters include 72-84% of Republicans and 75-82% of independents.
- 72% of CA-52 voters, 70% of NY-04 voters, 69% of FL-07 voters, and 62% of NJ05 voters support giving low- and moderate-income Americans, including seniors, children, and people who do not get insurance at work, the opportunity to get health insurance at little or no cost if their district does not offer coverage under Medicaid. Just 14-20% are opposed. Supporters include a majority of independents (52-64%) and a plurality to majority of Republicans, depending on the district (43-63%).
A majority of voters in all four districts (72% in CA-52, 70% in NY-04, 65% in FL-07, and 62% in NJ-05) say they support the overall Build Back Better plan, which would provide paid family and medical leave, expand Medicare coverage for seniors including dental, vision, and hearing coverage, and lower health care costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.
A majority of voters in all four districts (72% in CA-52, 70% in NY-04, 65% in FL-07, and 62% in NJ-05) say they support the overall Build Back Better plan, which would provide paid family and medical leave, expand Medicare coverage for seniors including dental, vision, and hearing coverage, and lower health care costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 516 voters in Florida’s 7th Congressional District on behalf of Protect Our Care from October 15-16, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 4.3%. 60% of interviews for the survey were conducted by text message and 40% by telephone.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 658 voters in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District on behalf of Protect Our Care from October 15-17, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 3.8%. 50% of interviews for the survey were conducted by telephone and 50% by text message.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 532 voters in New York 4th Congressional District on behalf of Protect Our Care from October 15-16, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 4.3%. 50% of interviews for the survey were conducted by telephone and 50% by text message.