A large majority of Americans agree the health care status quo leaves much to be desired, but there is very little agreement on how to improve things.
A recent poll by the Associated Press finds a plurality of voters affiliated with both major parties say health care is the top issue facing the country. Forty-seven percent of Republicans, 40 percent of Democrats, and 43 percent of independents say dealing with the issue should be the top priority in Washington.
Recommended For You
Some other issues get much more attention from voters of one party. Forty percent of Republicans say immigration should be a top priority, compared to only 15 percent of Democrats. Twenty percent of Democrats cite racism as a priority, whereas it's not even on the radar for Republicans.
The percentage of Americans citing health care as a top issue increased substantially from a similar poll conducted a year ago, rising from 31 percent to 43 percent.
The AP poll did not gauge what voters wanted to see happen with the Affordable Care Act, but another recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation displays the division and oft-conflicting opinions voiced by voters in regards to President Obama's signature domestic policy.
The Kaiser poll, conducted just a week after the election, shows only a quarter of Americans support full repeal of Obamacare, while another 17 percent say they simply want the law to be "scaled back."
Meanwhile, 30 percent want to see the law expanded and 19 percent want the incoming administration to maintain the law as it exists.
In the two months since the Kaiser poll, however, there are signs that public sentiment is shifting more strongly in favor of keeping the ACA in place as the country faces the reality of a repeal that could result in the loss of coverage for 18 million.
Adding to the public's muddled message on health care is Donald Trump nor Republican leaders in Congress agree on how and when the ACA is repealed and what should replace it.
Trump has said that he will put in place a program that provides universal insurance, a promise that runs counter to the small government ideology espoused by many Republicans in Congress.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
