Most people enrolled in Medicare Part D see new $2,000 cap as helpful change
A recent national poll from the PAN Foundation’s Center for Patient Research finds two in three (68 percent) of all Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Part D. Among those enrolled in Medicare Part D and have a chronic illness, most (65 percent) feel the new $2,000 cap on prescription costs will be helpful to them this year. In fact, around one in ten (11 percent) say the cap allows them to seek treatment for conditions they have put aside due to cost.
Other findings include:
- Nearly two in five (35 percent) say the $2,000 cap eases their mind in case they are prescribed new medications or are diagnosed with a new condition in 2025.
- Nearly one in four (23 percent) feel the $2,000 cap will reduce the amount of money they spend on prescriptions in 2025.
- Around one in ten (13 percent) say the cap is important but that they will still struggle affording $2,000 out-of-pocket in 2025.
- Around two in five (38 percent) will pay for their prescriptions using a credit card, while one in three (32 percent) will pay using their social security income.
“Our most recent poll reinforces that the new Medicare Part D annual cap is going to help thousands of people start and stay on treatment. But we also know that many will still struggle to afford $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs for their prescription medications,” said Amy Niles, Chief Mission Officer at the PAN Foundation. “We know that out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications are just one part of a patient’s overall cost of care, not to mention other living expenses such as rent/mortgage, food, and utilities. In addition, healthcare insurance premiums are rising for nearly everyone and Medicare Part B drugs and all drugs taken by privately insured patients still have no out-of-pocket caps. So, while we welcome any change that helps to increase access and affordability to care, the PAN Foundation recognizes the critical role we will continue to play as a safety net for thousands of people each year. We are committed serving as a lifeline for those people.”
Polling methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States between February 6 and February 10, 2025, among 2,075 adults (aged 18 and over) by The Harris Poll on behalf of PAN Foundation via its Harris On Demand omnibus product. Included in the 2,075 adults were 1,211 adults with any chronic condition, defined as those who self-report having been diagnosed by a healthcare provider with at least one of several specific chronic conditions. Data were weighted where necessary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, household income, [employment], and political party affiliation, to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to other multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including, but not limited to coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments.
About the PAN Foundation
As a leading charitable foundation and healthcare advocacy organization, the PAN Foundation is dedicated to accelerating access to treatment for those who need it most and empowering patients on their healthcare journeys. We provide critical financial assistance for treatment costs, advocate for policy solutions that expand access to care, and deliver education on complex topics—all driven by our belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, equitable healthcare.
Since 2004, our financial assistance programs have helped more than 1.3 million people to start or stay on life-changing treatment. In addition, we’ve achieved major policy victories that increase access to care, mobilized patient advocates to call for change, and educated people nationwide on critical healthcare-related topics. We’re committed to working towards a future where equitable health outcomes are a reality for all. To learn more, visit panfoundation.org.