A new national poll found that Americans rank prescription drug companies and health insurers among the country’s four most corrupt industries, as healthcare costs become an increasingly powerful voting issue.
According to the new Navigator Research polling:
42% of voters identified prescription drug companies as among the most corrupt industries, second only to oil and gas companies.
37% said the same about health insurers, with nearly identical results among Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
60% said cracking down on corruption that leads to price gouging would reduce costs more effectively than price caps, which were favored by 33%.
This comes just months after a June Axios/Ipsos poll found that 54% of Americans would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports expanding prescription-drug discount programs. With the 2026 midterms approaching, voters are making it clear that prescription-drug costs will influence their decisions at the ballot box.
“The current system has lost public trust” said Paul Pruitt, Chief Growth Officer of SHARx, pharmaceutical procurement company.
Pruitt believes there is a need for more advocates for employers and patients burdened by high prescription costs, helping them access expensive medications outside the traditional insurance and PBM pricing model.
Pruitt says the pricing practices are fueling the public’s frustration and questions that need to be asked and answered
Why have drugmakers and health insurers lost so much public trust?
Who actually determines what employers and patients pay for prescription drugs?
Why do rebates, fees, and PBM contracts make drug pricing so difficult to follow?
Are prescription-drug discount programs addressing the cause of high prices or only providing temporary relief?
What would meaningful accountability in the prescription-drug supply chain look like?
Could healthcare costs influence the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race?
