MEMORANDUM
To: Interested Parties
From: Minami Yoshizawa, Public Policy Polling
Date: October 13, 2021
RE: Widespread Support in Key States for Medicare Negotiations 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 Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virginia 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.
Overwhelming majorities of voters across party lines in each state support giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.
- 73% of Arizona voters, 74% of West Virginia voters, 77% of New Jersey voters, and 78% of Delaware voters say they support giving Medicare the power to lower prescription drug prices for all Americans, with a majority in each state saying they strongly support it.
- This includes support from a majority across party lines, including 65-74% of independents and 63-74% of Republicans.
- An overwhelming majority of voters (ranging from 85% in New Jersey to 92% in West Virginia) say they think the price of prescription drugs is too high, while just 4-9% think they are “about right.”
- Opposing Medicare negotiations for drug prices could have political consequences for each state’s elected officials. A plurality of voters (ranging from 39% in New Jersey and West Virginia to 45% in Arizona) say they are less likely to vote for their senator in the next election if they oppose Medicare having the power to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Just 17-20% say they would be more likely to support them.
- An overwhelming majority of voters in each state (ranging from 83% in New Jersey to 88% in Delaware) support making sure that Americans do not pay more for the same prescription drugs than what people pay in other countries, while just 4-6% oppose it. Those in support include 80-84% of independents and 80-85% of Republicans.
- A majority of voters in each state (ranging from 68% in Arizona to 77% in New Jersey) say they agree more that we should allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to make drugs and medication more affordable to patients.
- Voters reject the drug company argument that giving Medicare the power to negotiate will undermine innovations. Just 7-11% 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:
- 59% of Arizona voters, 63% of West Virginia voters, 66% of New Jersey voters, and 70% of Delaware 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 9-19% overall are opposed. Like many of the previous initiatives, this attracts bipartisan support, including 56-61% of Republican voters and 52-64% of independents.
- 79% of Arizona voters, 81% of West Virginia voters, 84% of New Jersey voters, and 86% of Delaware voters support policies to lower drug costs after hearing that savings from lower drug prices would be used to provide health care benefits for hearing, dental, and vision to seniors on Medicare, and lower insurance premiums for millions more. Supporters include 76-85% of Republicans and 71-82% of independents.
- 56% of Arizona voters, 64% of West Virginia voters, 67% of New Jersey voters, and 70% of Delaware 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 state does not offer coverage under Medicaid. Just 13-21% are opposed. Supporters include a plurality or majority of independents (48-62%) and Republicans (41-58%).
A majority of voters in all four states (ranging from 57% in West Virginia to 70% in Delaware) 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 709 Arizona voters on behalf of Protect Our Care from October 8-9, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 3.7%. 52% of interviews for the survey were conducted by text message and 48% by telephone.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 782 Delaware voters on behalf of Protect Our Care from October 8-10, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 3.5%. 50% of interviews for the survey were conducted by telephone and 50% by text message.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 720 New Jersey voters on behalf of Protect Our Care from October 8-10, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 3.7%. 50% of interviews for the survey were conducted by telephone and 50% by text message.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 960 West Virginia voters on behalf of Protect Our Care from October 8-9, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 3.2%. 50% of interviews for the survey were conducted by telephone and 50% by text message.