September 09, 2026

POLL RESULTS for the Alliance for Retired Americans

POLL RESULTS: Survey Indicates Seniors in Battleground States Oppose Policies That Could Disrupt Drug Access and Affordability

Introduction

Election season is in full swing, and no issue seems to be in the limelight quite like healthcare. Frustrations with the system are mounting, and as candidates up and down the ballot look to earn voters’ trust, many have promised sweeping reforms or fixes – including proposals focused on prescription drug reform. To better understand seniors’ attitudes on healthcare, the prescription drug industry, and where the appetite for change lies, we completed a total of 3,300 interviews across 2026’s major battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

While seniors share in the seemingly majority opinion that reform is needed, they also are largely satisfied with both their ability to access and afford their medication. This is likely thanks to Medicare and our nation’s pharmacy infrastructure – both of which are challenged by various policy proposals.

Executive Summary

• Prescription medications are taken in almost every senior’s household. A significant majority of seniors use prescription medications, making their views a necessary perspective for lawmakers to consider.
• Unsurprisingly, seniors are unfavorable toward “big players” in the prescription drug industry, including the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. However, they view both local and national chain pharmacies favorably.
• Seniors are, in large part, able to both access and afford their prescription medications. A strong majority of seniors stated that their prescriptions were not difficult to access and are affordable.
• Seniors, like many Americans, want to see industry power curbed. However, if reform threatens services, support drops significantly.
• Seniors widely support efforts to lower prescription drug costs through state affordability boards. Very few seniors believe drug companies should be able to set prices without any government intervention.

Key Findings and Relevance

1. Favorability Industry Players & Pharmacies – Seniors are unfavorable toward major companies, but favorable toward pharmacies. These findings are similar for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike. 

2. Similar to their viewpoints on pharmacy storefronts, seniors are very favorable toward mail order pharmacies, especially in Arizona. About 20% of seniors say they usually fill their prescriptions via mail order. 

3. In almost all of respondents’ households, someone takes prescription medications, and virtually no respondents find them difficult to access.

4. Seniors widely say their prescriptions are affordable. This is likely thanks to Medicare, which most seniors polled use as their primary insurance. 

5.  Seniors, like many Americans, want to see industry power in the health care sector curbed. While proposals that break up big health companies are popular, support for them drops when seniors consider the impact it may have on their local access to medicines.

6. Seniors overwhelmingly believe that the government should negotiate with drug companies on prices. State-level affordability boards have support across the board.