Voters Like Their Health Care, But Not The System

Most voters continue to give the health care they receive a positive rating, but few hold the nation’s health care system in high regards.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 32% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent, while 31% rate it as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The number of voters who give health care in America positive marks has remained in the mid-30s to low 40s in most regular surveying since 2012. In February, this number dropped a low of 29%. At the same time, the number of voters who give the system poor marks has held relatively steady in the mid-20s to lows 30s. 

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of voters rate the overall quality of the health care they receive as good or excellent, but that’s been steadily declining since it last reached an all-time high of 82% four years ago. Six percent (6%) rate the health care they receive as poor.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on July 25-26, 2018 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Americans still consider themselves healthy, but many continue to pass on medical checkups and prescription drugs to save money.

The older the voter, the more likely they are to rate the quality of health care they receive as good or excellent. Older voters are also more inclined than younger voters to give the U.S. health care system positive marks.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Republicans give the health care system a positive rating, but 20% of Democrats and 31% of voters not affiliated with either political party agree. 

A sizable number of voters across the demographic board rate the overall quality of the health care they receive as good or excellent.

Even a plurality (42%) of voters who rate the U.S. health care system as poor like the quality of care they receive.

Just eight percent (8%) of all voters say Obamacare is their biggest concern among the problems facing the nation. By comparison, 27% feel that way about the Trump administration’s alleged ties to Russia.

In September, half (48%) of voters said they support a single-payer health care system where the federal government provides coverage for everyone.

Forty percent (40%) of American Adults would choose to give a loved one diagnosed with a terminal illness pain medication and let nature take its course. Nearly as many (35%) would instead choose to extend their life as long as medically possible.

Most Americans (86%) consider exercise at least somewhat important to their daily lives, with 45% who view it as Very Important.  

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