Editor's note: This study was conducted in partnership with West Health, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization focused on health care and aging.
WASHINGTON, DC — Health care issues, particularly those related to health care costs and access, are important policy areas that are top of mind for many American voters. But so far, a majority of Americans say health care has not received enough attention in the 2024 presidential campaign, according to a new West Health/Gallup poll. The upcoming vice presidential debate will provide a unique opportunity for both sides to address these concerns and lay out their health policy plans.
The findings reported here are from a survey conducted via the web from September 9th to 16th using the Gallup Panel, with 2,398 respondents responding prior to the September 10th presidential debate. 1,262 people surveyed, for a total of 3,660 respondents. The attitudes reported here did not change significantly between respondents interviewed before and after the debate.
1. Two in three Americans (including majorities of both political parties) say health care has not received enough attention during the past presidential campaign.
Overall, 67% of U.S. adults say health care doesn't get enough attention during the 2024 presidential campaign, 6% say it gets too much attention, and 27% say it doesn't get enough attention. He said he was collecting them. Democrats and independents are more likely than Republicans to say that health care has not received enough attention during the current presidential campaign. Still, more than half (53%) of Republicans agree that it doesn't get enough attention.
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Among respondents who said they watched the September 10 presidential debate, a similar number (71%) reported that the candidates did not spend enough time on health-related issues during the debate. . This attitude was held by 77% of Democrats, 74% of independents, and 57% of Republicans who watched the debate.
2. Independents trust Harris slightly more than Trump to handle major health care issues, but about a third trust neither candidate.
Americans' levels of trust in presidential candidates to address important issues regarding the cost and quality of health care have declined along party lines, with a majority of Republicans favoring Donald Trump to address these issues. The majority of Democrats say they have confidence in Kamala Harris. Politically independent people are slightly more likely to report trusting Harris over Trump on these health issues. This is especially true when it comes to protecting and strengthening Medicare as well as improving access to health care and insurance coverage. On these two topics, independents are more than 10 points more likely to say they trust Harris than Trump.
About one-third or more of independents report that they do not trust either candidate on every health care issue surveyed, and a significant portion of potential swing voters are cynical about both candidates on health care. It suggests that you feel the same way.
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3. Nearly half of Americans report that candidates' positions on drug cost reduction and mental health policy are important issues in deciding their vote in the next election.
While candidates' positions on protecting Medicare and Social Security are among the most important health-related issues in determining 63% of Americans' votes in the upcoming presidential election, candidates' positions on reducing health care costs are Position (57%) is near the back.
The importance of candidates' positions on mental health care (43%) is about as important as reducing drug costs (47%) as the most important issue in deciding their vote. This reflects Americans' widespread dissatisfaction with this issue area, as 73% say the government is not doing enough to ensure people have access to affordable mental health care. I am doing it.
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4. Protecting Medicare and lowering drug costs are among the most important issues older Americans care about when deciding where to vote.
The importance of specific health care issues to an individual's vote differs between older and younger Americans. Americans 65 and older are more likely than those 18 to 49 to say that candidates' positions on protecting Medicare and Social Security and lowering drug costs are among the most important issues in deciding their vote. They are much more likely to say yes, or the most important issue. Conversely, younger and older voters place roughly equal importance on candidates' positions on reducing health care costs and mental health policies.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans or independents to say that various health-related issues are at least one of the most important issues when deciding to vote in the next election. Independents are about halfway between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to the importance of these issues.
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There are significant age differences within party groups. On the issue of Medicare and Social Security protections, 74% of Republicans age 65 and older and 68% of Republicans ages 50 to 64 say this is the most important issue that will influence their vote, or the most important. Among Republicans between the ages of 18 and 64, 40% say it is one of the top issues. 49. Similarly, 94% of Democrats ages 65 and older and 85% of Democrats ages 50 to 64 say this is the most important issue or one of the most important issues. compared to 58% of Democrats ages 18 to 49, who follow the same pattern. .
5. Democrats are far more optimistic than Republicans and independents about improving access to affordable health care over the next five years.
Just over half of Americans say they can afford drugs and medical care if they need it now, according to the latest numbers from the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index, down from a high of 61% in 2022. .
When asked how likely it is that access to affordable health care will improve over the next five years, Democrats express optimism, while Republicans and independents are pessimistic. Fifty-eight percent of Democrats think it is very likely or somewhat likely that access will improve, while majorities of Republicans (70%) and independents (64%) say it is unlikely that it will improve. Very or not at all.
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what it means
Americans want more focus on lowering health care costs, but the issue has received less attention this presidential election than in previous years. This is especially true for Americans age 65 and older. Majorities of older Republicans and older Democrats say a candidate's plan to protect Medicare and Social Security is important to their vote choice.
People 65 and older are an important voting bloc in the U.S. In 2020, the number of Americans 65 and older peaked at 55.8 million, making up about 17% of the population. That number could be even higher now, as the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2025, there will be 63.3 million people age 65 and older.
While other political issues may be overshadowing health care this election, Americans continue to have serious concerns about being able to afford the health care they need. Data from the study shows that more than two in three Americans (67%) believe that a serious health event has contributed to their medical debt, including 62% of Republicans, 67% of Independents, and 71% of Democrats. indicates that they are very or somewhat concerned about the possibility of a connection. Issues around the cost and accessibility of health care directly impact the daily lives of all voters, regardless of their political affiliation.
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