"Dissatisfaction with the health care system appears to be focused primarily on cost," EBRI said in a news release. "While the 'poor' ranking varies from year to year, EBRI research has found it has grown significantly over time."

Most of those surveyed (80 percent) said they were either somewhat or quite confident that they had access to any medical treatment they might need. This, EBRI said, has remained consistent over the last few years. Three-quarters said they felt they had enough health care options available to them.

However, the future holds uncertainties for those surveyed. "Confidence about the health care system decreases as workers look to the future," EBRI said. "While 47 percent of workers indicate they are extremely or very confident about their ability to get the treatments they need today, only 30 percent are confident about their ability to get needed treatments during the next 10 years, and just 19 percent are confident about this once they are eligible for Medicare."

Let's dissect the data. Here's how the votes came in on the overall quality of the health care system in 2014 vs. 2013 by category:

• Excellent: 1 percent in 2014 vs. 2 percent in 2013
• Very good: 10 percent vs. 12 percent
• Good: 27 percent vs. 31 percentage
• Fair: 32 percent vs. 34 percentage
• Poor: 29 percent vs. 21 percentage

Despite these big-picture rather negative perceptions of the system, those polled were pretty satisfied with their own health coverage.

"Workers' ratings of their own health plans continue to be generally favorable. One-half (50 percent) of those with health insurance coverage are extremely or very satisfied with their current plans, and 38 percent are somewhat satisfied. Only 11 percent say they are not too (9 percent) or not at all (2 percent) satisfied," EBRI reported.

With the cost of insurance coverage ever on the American mind, the consumer, at least in this study, is becoming more educated about plan utilization.

The survey showed that "73 percent [of those who had experienced an increase in cost of coverage] say these increased costs lead them to try to take better care of themselves, and 61 percent indicate they choose generic drugs more often. About one-half also say they go to the doctor only for more serious conditions or symptoms."

But costs also are leading to potentially negative behaviors:

• 49 percent said they are delaying going to the doctor when they think they should go to reduce health care spending.
• 27 percent state they have decreased their contributions to retirement plans.
• 47 percent have decreased their contributions to other savings.
• 21 percent have had difficulty paying for basic necessities such as food, heat and housing.
• 32 percent say they have had difficulty paying other bills.
• 23 percent say they have used up all or most of their savings.
• 32 percent have increased their credit card debt.
• 16 percent report that they have borrowed money.
• 28 percent have delayed retirement.
• 16 percent have dropped other insurance benefits.