With presidential candidates in both parties proposing changes to the nation’s health 
care system, most consumers are much more interested in the cost of prescription drugs, according to a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The top priority, picked by more than three quarters (77%) of those polled, is making sure high-cost drugs for chronic conditions, such as HIV, hepatitis, mental illness, and cancer, are affordable for those who need them. This was the top priority of Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike, with at least 70% in each group citing it.
The Foundation’s October tracking poll found that the public’s second priority, at 63%, is government action to lower prescription drug costs. For Republicans, the figure was 56% — similar to the 58% share of Republicans who say repealing the entire Affordable Care Act is a key priority.
Other priorities picked by more than half of the public include making sure provider networks are adequate, protections against surprise out-of-network bills, and increasing price and quality transparency. .
Issues specific to the Affordable Care Act, such as repealing several of its provisions or the entire law, fall lower on the list. For example, while the public generally opposes the so-called “Cadillac tax” on expensive employee health plans, it ranked 12th on the poll’s priority list.
Favorable and unfavorable views of the ACA overall were tied, with 42% holding each view. Compared to when the ACA started taking effect in early 2014, more Americans say their views about the law are based on their personal experience (35% now, up from 23% in February 2014.) Fewer say it is based on what they’ve seen in the media (30% now, down from 44% in February 2014).
The poll was conducted from October 14 to 20, 2015 among a national random telephone sample of 1,203 adults. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. The margin of error is 3% for the full sample; for results based on subgroups, the margin error may be higher.
