When asked about potential reasons for rising health care costs, drug company profits top the list. Nearly seven in ten (69%) say high profits made by drug companies are a “very important” reason for higher health care costs, followed closely by the amount of greed and waste in the health care system (62%). More than half believe the aging of the population (55%) and the number of malpractice lawsuits (54%) are “very important” contributors to rising health care costs. Fewer than four in ten (39%) adults believe that people having little incentive to look for lower cost services is a “very” important factor in causing higher health care costs.

When asked to choose the most important factor, almost one-quarter (24%) say drug company profits are the most important reason behind rising health care costs.