Summary

Prescription drug prices in the United States are nearly 2.8 times higher than the prices in other OECD countries, like Canada, Japan, and France.¹ With nearly seven in every ten American adults (69%) prescribed at least one medication, these high costs impact the majority of the population to some degree.²

Medication Rationing

When prescription drugs are unaffordable, patients may be forced to ration the medications they have on hand by skipping doses or splitting pills in half, or they may not be able to fill their prescription at all. Individuals who ration medication often experience worse health outcomes and more frequently use health care services relative to patients who take their medication as prescribed.³ Nearly than one in every four (23% of) respondents reported rationing medication due to cost concerns in the last year (see Figure 1).

Among Connecticut respondents, medication rationing was most commonly reported among respondents enrolled in HUSKY Health, followed by those with private insurance, and Medicare. However, certain population were more likely to report rationing medication, such as respondents earning less than $50,000 a year, and respondents with a disability or living in a household with a person with a disability (see Table 1).

Nationally, rationing behaviors occur across income and insurance status — approximately 27% of prescriptions written to insured American adults go unfilled due to insurance coverage denials. ⁴ While some patients are able to overcome these obstacles by using secondary insurance, paying out-of-pocket, or applying manufacturer coupons, 27% of survey respondents identified lowering what you pay out of pocket for prescription drugs, as one of their top three policy priorities for government action.

Worries about Affording the Cost of Prescription Drugs in the Future

Nearly more than half (46%) of survey respondents reported being somewhat or very worried about affording the cost of prescription drugs. Worry varies by income group, with respondents in households making less than $50,000 per year experiencing the most worry (see Table 2).⁵ However, a large percentage of households making above $75,000 per year also reported worrying about the cost of prescription drugs. 

Respondent Perceptions of Health Care Systems, Policy Solutions

Connecticut respondents reported that they believe drug companies have a major responsibility for rising health care costs. The most frequently cited players contributing to rising health care costs were:  

• 74% — Drug companies charging too much money
• 70% — Insurance companies charging too much money
• 55% — Hospitals charging too much money 

When asked about their views on policy solutions to influence health care costs and efficiency, Ohio respondents endorsed several strategies, including:

• 90% — Limit the price of expensive prescription drugs;
• 89% — Rein in how quickly prescription drug prices can increase in the private health insurance market (Medicare and Medicaid already do this);
• 81% — Allow your pharmacist to substitute for a lower cost prescription drug option, if available, without needing to get permission from your prescriber;

The survey also revealed that there is bipartisan support for these policy strategies as well (see Table 3).

The high burden of health care and prescription drug affordability, along with high levels of support for change, suggests that elected leaders need to make addressing this consumer burden a top priority. Annual surveys can help assess whether progress is being made. For more detailed information about health care affordability burdens facing Ohio respondents, please see Healthcare Value Hub, Connecticut Residents Struggle to Afford High Health Care Costs; Worry About Affording Health Care in the Future; Support Government Action across Party Lines, Data Brief (September 2025).