Siena Poll: NY Black & Hispanic Voters Especially Worried About High Rx Prices

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Siena Poll: NY Black & Hispanic Voters Especially Worried About High Rx Prices

NEW YORK – New York's Black and Hispanic voters are particularly worried about prescription costs and supportive of a proposal to allow lower-cost drugs to be imported from Canada, according to a recent Siena College Institute poll.

The data collected in September from 1,033 likely voters across the State of New York for AARP New York show that 75% of Black respondents and 68% of Hispanic respondents very concerned about high drug costs, compared to 62% of all voters who took part.

"We know that too many people, especially older adults, struggle to afford medications they cannot live without. Or, they simply don't fill their prescriptions," said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. "This Siena poll makes clear that people of color, in particular, feel they are not offered the support, choices, and protection they need and deserve. And they look forward to a time when they could access less expensive prescription drugs imported from Canada."

The Siena poll results were consistent with other healthcare surveys that reflect racial and ethnic inequities. A 2022 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that while millions of older Americans struggle to pay for the prescription drugs their doctors say they need, Black and Hispanic adults reported having difficulties at rates roughly 1.5 to 2 times higher than white adults.

AARP New York State President James O'Neal, an expert on aging and community health care, said older Black and Hispanic adults on fixed incomes are less likely than white people to get information about lower-cost prescription alternatives. He said doctors and pharmacists lack important training in working with older people from different communities.

"If you don't know and the doctor doesn't offer, and you have 10 minutes, you may never learn about other medications you could use. Why would you ask if no one has ever talked to you about them?" said O'Neal, a consultant on aging issues who worked in community health until his retirement. "People of color, particularly older people, believe the doctor knows best."

The survey also showed that among voters familiar with a proposal to allow lower-cost drugs to be imported from Canada, people of color were more supportive than the overall pool of respondents. By a five-to-one margin (47% to 9%), voters familiar with the proposal said they backed importation. Support topped 60% among Black and Hispanic voters familiar with the proposal.

"Historically, in communities of color, older adults on fixed incomes don't feel they have cost-effective options regarding their health care choices in many aspects of their lives," said Maggie Castro, AARP New York senior associate state director of community outreach and engagement. "It makes so much sense, then, that the Hispanic and Black individuals in this survey would welcome lower-cost drugs from Canada with open arms."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found Americans pay two to three times more for the same drugs than what they typically cost in some other countries and has opened the way for states to import medications with federal approval. Florida recently became the first state to have their importation program approved by the federal government.

A Canadian importation bill passed the New York State Senate for the third consecutive year during the 2024 legislative session. It was on the Assembly floor when the session adjourned in June. AARP New York will continue prioritizing importation in the coming legislative session.

The Siena poll was conducted September 11-16 among 1,003 likely voters. Results have an overall margin of error of +/-4.3 percentage points. View the full poll results.

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About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

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