AMERICANS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AGREE: IT'S TIME TO LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS

The following information was released by the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP):

by AHIP

As rising prices for hospital care, doctor visits and prescription drugs push healthcare spending to record highs and drive up consumers' premiums, Americans across the political spectrum want policymakers to address the root causes of the healthcare affordability crisis.

By the Numbers:

A majority of voters across the political spectrum say they're more likely to vote for candidates who support ideas to lower healthcare costs. (Axios/Ipsos American Health Index)

Two-thirds of voters said the federal government should make "stop[ping] hospitals from charging excessive prices" their top priority more than any other policy proposal. (Century Foundation)

71 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of Republicans and 75 percent of rural voters support reining in hospitals' ever-higher prices. (Century Foundation)

81 percent of voters believe that hospital prices are unreasonable. (FamiliesUSA)

Six in 10 Americans worry about affording prescription drugs, the highest level recorded since 2018. (KFF Health Tracking Poll)

Health plans are the only part of the healthcare system with an incentive to make coverage and care as affordable as possible. With U.S. healthcare spending expected to reach a record $6 trillion this year, health plans are doing everything in their power to shield Americans from the full impact of high and rising medical costs.

But common-sense policy solutions are needed to bring prices down and make coverage and care more affordable, including:

Enact common-sense site-neutral payment reforms;

Close the loophole that has allowed some out-of-network providers to abuse the No Surprises Act;

Rein in brand drugmakers' rampant patent abuse that blocks lower-cost alternatives;

Increase prescription drug pricing transparency for consumers; and

Stop anticompetitive hospital mergers that raise costs.