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Fall 2024 Poll Results

TN Employer Benefits Alliance

This fall, the Tennessee Employer Benefits Alliance (TEBA), in partnership with Endeavor Business Intelligence, conducted a survey of 503 voters across Tennessee who identify as Republican. The goal? To better understand how Tennesseans perceive healthcare and prescription drug costs – and what they expect from state lawmakers on these critical issues. 


The results revealed a clear message: healthcare is a priority, and voters are calling for transparency and accountability in addressing rising costs.  


Perceptions of healthcare and drug costs 


Multiple questions were asked about the public’s perception of costs.  

  • A combined 63 percent said their healthcare and prescription insurance coverage has gotten more expensive. 

  • 58 percent said their personal prescription drug costs have gotten more expensive. 


Additionally, when asked who they believe is most responsible for high costs of prescription drugs in Tennessee, pharmaceutical companies and the government were seen as the most responsible.  


In fact, pharmaceutical companies were ranked the most responsible for high costs at 47 percent of voters, and the government ranked second at 28 percent of voters. 


Perception of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies 


The surveyed Tennesseans were asked if they think pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers have too much influence over Tennessee lawmakers.  


An overwhelming majority said both have too much influence.   

  • 71 percent said pharmaceutical companies have too much influence. 

  • 65 percent said the same about healthcare providers. 


Additional survey questions 


When it comes to state government mandates in healthcare, 67 percent of the voters said government mandates often drive up costs and benefit special interest groups instead of patients and families. 


Also, nearly half (a combined 48 percent) said the legislature should not limit Tennessee businesses’ health benefit design options. This means, they believe the government should not dictate how businesses set up their benefit plans. For example, some companies provide an in-house pharmacy to lower costs of prescriptions for their employees, and 48 percent believe that the legislature should not be able to take that option away. 


Voters would like the legislature to be more transparent about how its actions affect healthcare costs. 80 percent of voters would support a law that would require the state to disclose the impact of any proposed legislation that would raise healthcare or drug costs. Additionally, 86 percent felt the legislature should fully understand the cost to consumers for drugs/healthcare costs before passing new laws.  


Overall, the following three statements were in strong agreement, and sum up the survey responses.  

  1. Mandates should not restrict employees' access to the best health benefits. 

  2. Mandates should not raise the cost of prescription drugs for employees. 

  3. Tennessee should promote transparency in employee benefit plans. 

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