WASHIGNTON, D.C. and SAN DIEGO, CA – April 29, 2021 – Residents of likely competitive 2022 battleground states overwhelmingly support greater involvement by the federal government in lowering healthcare costs, according to a new poll from nonprofit and nonpartisan West Health and the Global Strategy Group. The poll queried 3,000 residents from Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The survey finds that high healthcare costs left one in five (18%) respondents reporting that they or their family members did not seek treatment for a health problem in the last year due to cost , while another 15% said they could not afford medications prescribed by their doctors.
Nearly a third of all respondents (31%) believe that the U.S. healthcare system needs a complete and total overhaul, with another 51% believe that some form of targeted change is needed. A mere 9% of respondents believe the healthcare system is fine the way it is.
According to the survey, policies that would empower Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and limit the amount a hospital can charge people with private insurance enjoy overwhelming support. Across all states 8 in 10 respondents support these policies. Additionally, support is also high (68%) for legislation that would prohibit employers from offering high-deductible plans, and an overwhelming majority (70%) of respondents indicate they are supportive of a public health plan.
For more information on the survey, topline data reports are available here and a data summary can be found here.
About West Health
Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations including the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego, and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at www.westhealth.org and follow @westhealth.
About Global Strategy Group
Global Strategy Group is the go-to public affairs, communications, and research partner for companies, causes, and campaigns. We work with our clients to build their reputations, tackle big challenges, drive positive change, and win.