OBJECTIVES: Assess the consumer perception of communication with their HCPs and the information clarity during their recent medical visit when a new medication was prescribed. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey of consumers (patients and caregivers) was conducted (FDA cooperative-agreement #5U18FD004653-01) in Nov-Dec 2013 using a consumer panel in the U.S. A geographically diverse sample of consumers taking prescription medication(s) daily in the past 6 months to manage >=1 chronic disease condition, or who had a primary responsibility for helping another adult taking prescription medication was recruited. Survey collected medication-taking and information-seeking behavior, and personal experience with and receipt of medication warnings/safety information. Descriptive statistics are reported. RESULTS: Two thousand consumers (1600 patients/400 caregivers) participated. Positive attributes concerning HCP communication and information clarity (specific to medication being prescribed and their risk/safety included: comfortable asking HCP questions about the medication (90%), HCP made me feel confident the medication was the best to treat my condition (86%), HCP addressed fears/concerns about medication (84%), HCP informed me of medication side-effects (75%). Negative attributes/perceptions included: I had concerns about medication safety (44%), it was hard to follow-up with HCP via email/phone with medication-related questions (44%), HCP did not spend enough time to discuss medication (33%), HCP seemed too quick to prescribe medication (31%), I don’t know what do to if I miss medication dose or took too much (27%), HCP used medical terms that were confusing (26%). These perceptions varied by age, number of comorbidities and whether the consumer was a patient or a caregiver. CONCLUSIONS: A diversity of positive and negative perceptions of HCP communication and information clarify was observed concerning recently prescribed medications. Factors influencing the negative perceptions and the modalities to address them warrants scrutiny.