More than half of the American public is “extremely” or “very” concerned about their health care costs increasing over the next year, according to a new poll.
The latest poll from AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 4 in 10 people are concerned about not being able to pay for necessary health care or medication, not being able to access crucial health care, or having a lack a health insurance.
While this concern is widespread regardless of health insurance status or its source, women tend to express more concern regarding health care than men, the poll found.
Many look to the government for health care solutions. Six in 10 say it is “the responsibility of the federal government to make sure that all Americans have health care coverage."
The current government shutdown is largely centered around a deadlock in Congress around health care subsidies. Many have not tuned into the specifics of the dispute, however. Forty-two percent of adults do not have an opinion about extending tax credits to those who purchase health care through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. However, more favor extending the health care subsidies than oppose them (43% vs 12%).
Much of the public is unhappy with President Donald Trump’s management of health care, the poll found. It remains an issue where he gets poor marks with only 31% approving of his performance. In comparison, 47% approve of how Trump is handling the conflict in the Middle East, 42% with how he is dealing with immigration, and 36% with his management of the economy.
The public tends to have more trust in the Democratic Party when it comes to health care: 38% say they trust Democrats to handle the issue better, compared with 25% who trust Republicans. Still, the public has more trust in the Republican Party than the Democrats to handle other issues, including crime (39% vs 19%) and the economy (36% vs 25%).
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