1 in 5 Americans say US health care is ‘in trouble’

What’s more, 20% say the U.S. health care system is “in trouble,” the highest level in more than a decade.

Gallup polled more than 1,000 adults in all 50 states by telephone between Nov. 9 and Dec. 2, 2022, as part of its annual “Health and Healthcare” survey. Only 48 percent rated the quality of health care in this country as “excellent” or “good,” and for the first time in the survey’s history, a slight majority of 52 percent were critical of the quality of care, compared to 31 percent. They call it “only fair” and 21% – a new high – call it “poor”.

The overall good/excellent rating is two percentage points lower than it was in 2021, but below the 62% peak it hit twice in the early 2010s, and below the public opinion record average of 55%. From 2001

Republicans have been a key driver of growing pessimism about the nation’s health care system, Gallup said. While Democrats’ positive sentiment toward the quality of health care in this country is 44 percent lower, Republicans have historically rated America’s health care higher when GOP presidents have been in office. In 2020, when former President Donald Trump was in office (and to rise in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic), 69% of Republicans said they thought the quality of health care was good.

Young Americans are more dissatisfied with the state of health care in the country than other generations. Only 34 percent of Americans ages 18 to 34 rated the quality of the nation’s health care as “very good” or “good,” compared to 42 percent of those ages 35 to 54. Health care in the US is good or good. A Gallup report on health care changes during the Covid-19 pandemic and Supreme Court Roe v. Since the repeal of Wade, access to abortion and birth control has been limited Last summer, it could bring about subliminal awareness among young adults.

What’s more, the cost of health care in America continues to be a pain point for many: 76% of adults say they are dissatisfied with medical costs in a new poll, compared to 24% who say they are satisfied. And these costs are increasing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of medical care increased by about 4.1% last year.

Another recent Gallup poll found that A record share of US adults said they or a family member delayed medical care in the past year because of high medical costs. “In 2022, Americans with an annual household income of less than $40,000 were nearly twice as likely as those with an income of $100,000 or more to have someone in their household delay serious health care (34% vs. 18%). ” says the report.

Read more: High medical costs caused many Americans to delay care last year

In fact, nearly half of American adults say they have trouble paying health care costs. According to the Kaiser Family FoundationAnd four in 10 delayed or missed treatment in the past year because of cost, the most common type of care adults report dental care.

But overall, a majority of Americans (66%) are more likely to view their own private health care and coverage positively than the overall quality of health care across the country, according to new Gallup data. However, their own health care quality ratings are not what they once were; Self-coverage positive rates are down five points from 2021.