The majority of U.S. adults do not approve of how healthcare is handled in the nation, according to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
In fact, only 12% of Americans say healthcare is handled extremely or very well in the U.S., and less than half said it is handled well. The findings come as Americans are facing sky-high inflation rates that are pushing up the cost of living, as well as healthcare costs. In addition, Americans are still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 400 new deaths per day being reported. The AP’s poll queried 1,505 adults between July 28-Aug. 1.
The pandemic has also put a huge strain on the healthcare workforce, dramatically increasing feelings of burnout, stress and trauma. The impact of the pandemic has also hastened the rates of healthcare workers planning to leave the industry over the next few years. As a result, healthcare organizations are faced with doing more with less.
“Navigating the American healthcare system is exceedingly frustrating,” A. Mark Fendrick, the director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, told the AP. “The COVID pandemic has only made it worse.”
When it comes to how prescription drug costs, the quality of care at nursing homes and mental healthcare are being handled, just 6% of Americans said these health services were done very well.
Americans are also more worried about access to healthcare in wake of the pandemic, the poll revealed. Nearly 8 in 10 said they are at least moderately concerned about getting access to quality healthcare when they need it. The concern is even higher among Black and Hispanic Americans, as 6 in 10 say they are very or extremely concerned about getting good care. Among white adults, 44% said the same. Women are also more concerned about getting quality care compared to men––53% and 42%, respectively.
When it comes to solutions for the healthcare system, Americans are more divided. Younger Americans, those between 18 and 49, are more likely than adults older than 50 to believe it is the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage. Overall, two-thirds of adults believe this, up from 57% in 2019 and 62% in 2017.
Only 4 in 10 Americans said they support a single-payer healthcare system that requires individuals to get their health insurance from a government plan. More than half (58%) say they favor a health insurance plan that anyone can purchase.
Most Americans (two-thirds) were also happy about the government stepping in to provide free COVID-19 testing, vaccines and treatment, while 2 in 10 said they felt neutral about the response.
When it comes to future government involvement in healthcare, 80% said they support the government negotiating for lower drug prices. That support comes as after the Inflation Reduction Act was recently signed into law, which allows Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."