(CNN) More than 13% of Americans -- about 34 million people -- say a friend or family member recently passed away in the last five years after being unable to afford treatment for a condition, according to a new poll from Gallup and West Health.

The survey, conducted in September among nearly 1,100 people in 50 states, doesn't confirm that a lack of care directly caused the deaths. But its findings suggest the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs and necessary care are keeping US adults from addressing health issues.

One-quarter of those who responded to the survey said they couldn't afford prescribed medication at one point in the last year. Women were almost 10% more likely to report cost as a barrier.

Low-income respondents were even more likely to be uninsured and unable to pay for medication. More than 40% of respondents earning an annual household income under $40,000 said were uninsured. Nearly half of those said they'd need to use a credit card or a loan to pay for their medical bills.

But an overwhelming majority -- 85% -- of US adults support legislation to lower prescription drug costs at the expense of the pharmaceutical industry, regardless of income level, education and employment status, the poll found.

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