A recent poll indicates that many voters believe healthcare in the United States is too expensive and support a system that would separate health insurance from employment.
Sponsored by Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit focused on reducing medical debt, the poll was conducted by Perry Undem, a nonpartisan research firm. They also held focus groups to gather a range of opinions on healthcare issues.
This survey was initially shared with The Hill.
According to the results, 69% of voters feel that healthcare costs are currently unaffordable, which remains fairly consistent across different political affiliations.
Additionally, 35% of respondents reported having medical or dental debt and the same percentage indicated they postponed or skipped medical care in the past year due to concerns about financial obligations related to healthcare.
Participants were asked if they had to make any significant sacrifices to meet their financial goals recently—things like cutting back on food, forgoing vacations, relying on credit cards, or borrowing from friends and family.
Among those surveyed, 68% admitted to at least one of these behaviors, and 43% said they had to eat less or opt for cheaper, less nutritious food.
One participant, a 43-year-old uninsured woman from West Virginia, expressed her struggles: “I go to the pantry and work three jobs. It’s tough, and it shouldn’t be this way. I don’t have time with my kids. I barely manage to work just to eat.”
Alison Sesso, president of Undue Medical Debt, commented to The Hill that this issue resonates widely: “Clearly, people are struggling with medical bills.”
She also noted that a surprising 74% identified insurance as a failing system for protecting them from medical debt. “While it’s not new that insurance has its issues, both parties seem to view it as a significant failure,” Sesso added.
Most respondents—63%—blamed insurance companies most for medical debt, with pharmaceutical companies and hospitals trailing at 12% and 9%, respectively.
Seventy-six percent of voters agreed on the need for a job-independent health insurance system, as it might lead to less job-lock and empower people to pursue self-employment without fear of losing coverage.
When it comes to tackling medical debt, 76% endorsed the idea of state-level laws aimed at providing protection. Among the popular measures were capping interest rates on medical debt, limiting collection agencies’ powers, and standardizing hospital financial assistance applications.
A notable 81% expressed support for establishing state-funded health plans that could offer more affordable options compared to private plans.
Seventy-seven percent of voters suggested they would feel more positive about their state representatives if such laws were passed, and 75% mentioned they’d be likely to vote for officials supporting these initiatives.
The ongoing debate surrounding health insurance has contributed to the current federal government shutdown, now one of the longest in U.S. history. Democrats are holding out for the extension of the enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans.
Sesso noted, “It’s no surprise that healthcare is central to current discussions. Medical debt and affordability are uniform concerns among Americans.” However, she expressed skepticism about federal action, suggesting people are looking to state governments for solutions.
The survey involved 1,319 voters selected for the 2024 general election and was conducted over a 12-minute period from August 21 to September 2. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.63 percentage points.
