Survey Shows Half of US Patients Face Barriers to Filling Their Prescriptions

A new national survey conducted by The Harris Poll for Surescripts reveals that over half of U.S. patients encounter significant hurdles when trying to fill their prescriptions. For pharmacists managing patients with chronic conditions, these findings underscore a critical gap in care, as 1 in 4 patients reported abandoning a medication because it was simply too expensive.¹

“With more patients than ever relying on expensive medications to treat chronic conditions, the need for patients to have accurate prescription cost information at the point of prescribing has never been greater,” Frank Harvey, president and CEO of Surescripts, said in a news release.¹ “The survey reinforces the essential role health care providers play in empowering patients with digital tools that support them to make confident and timely decisions about their care, elevating the overall care experience.”’

Results of the Survey

The January 2026 report highlights that although 76% of patients claim to be in good health, a significant 60% remain concerned about their overall well-being, often due to the complexities of managing daily medication regimens.²

The burden is particularly heavy for the 47% of patients diagnosed with at least 1 chronic condition, many of whom require multiple daily prescriptions. Of those with chronic diseases, 28% were also managing 2 or more conditions. In addition, 17% of respondents were caretakers for someone with a chronic illness.²

The average number of prescriptions per day was 3, with 47% of patients taking specialty medications. In the pharmacy, this often manifests as sticker shock at the counter because prescription pricing remains opaque until the point of sale.²

According to the survey, 36% of patients believe that having clearer cost information before arriving at the pharmacy would make managing their medications significantly easier. However, a sense of distrust persists, with 48% of patients stating they do not know who or what to trust for accurate information regarding medication costs and pricing.^1,2

Further, only 20% of patients say they were empowered in managing their health care and prescriptions, and 17% of patients said they felt frustrated. Additionally, 31% of patients said they were not confident in navigating the health care system.²

The Pharmacist’s Perspective

Pharmacists are positioned as a vital source of guidance, yet many feel hamstrung by current systemic limitations. Although 9 out of 10 pharmacists believe the patient experience is extremely important to their work, approximately 39% feel they have little ability to actually impact it.²

This frustration is compounded by administrative delays, particularly those involving prior authorization. Approximately 29% of patients who filled a prescription in the last year experienced delays due to these requirements, a figure that rises to 36% for patients managing 2 or more daily medications. These delays are more than an inconvenience; 13% of patients reported that their health actually worsened while waiting for insurance approvals.²

However, pharmacists have proven their roles in health care teams, specifically in the form of medication counseling, frontline care services, chronic disease management, and patient education. According to the American Pharmacists Association, patients visit their pharmacist twice as often as their physician, and nearly 80% of patients now view their pharmacist as an integral part of their health care team. In pharmacist-managed clinics (PMCs), investigators have found that pharmacists can improve affordability and accessibility for both outpatients and inpatient settings.^3-5

REFERENCES

1. Survey shows US patients struggle with prescription costs that limit treatment access, while demand grows for digital tools to unlock price transparency. News release. Surescripts. January 27, 2026. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://surescripts.com/press-releases/survey-shows-us-patients-struggle-prescription-costs-limit-treatment-access-while-demand-grows-digital-tools-unlock-price-transparency

2. Surescripts. Patients Want a More Informed and Empowering Healthcare Experience. January 2026. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://surescripts.com/patient-healthcare-experience-challenges

3. Wolters Kluwer. The pharmacist’s growing role in patient care and whole-person wellness. May 16, 2025. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/pharmacists-growing-role-in-patient-care-and-whole-person-wellness

4. American Pharmacists Association. Pharmacists: Highly Qualified Health Care Providers. 2024. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.pharmacist.com/CDN/Pharmacists-are-healthcare-providers.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAQNYDT252YKJO7IYX&Expires=1769711026&Signature=xqDe1SWNqoKJy7yqYJ52dw0p0MQ%3D

5. Thorakkattil SA, Parakkal SA, Mohammed Salim KT, et al. Improving patient safety and access to healthcare: The role of pharmacist-managed clinics in optimizing therapeutic outcomes. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2024;16:100527. Published 2024 Oct 11. doi:10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100527