Poll finds prescription drug costs emerging as a top health care issue for consumers

A new poll finds that Americans strongly support government action to control prescription drug costs, regardless of their political affiliation.

The 2016 presidential candidates continue to spar over President Barack Obama's 5-year-old law that expanded coverage for the uninsured. But the latest survey by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation suggests that the public is moving on to other health care issues.

Overall, 72 percent say the cost of prescription medications is unreasonable.

Big majorities support specific government actions:

— 86 percent say pharmaceutical companies should be required to disclose how they set prices.

— 83 percent say Medicare should be allowed to negotiate drug prices on behalf of seniors.

— And 76 percent say there should be limits on the cost of medications to treat serious illnesses.