Healthcare costs, ACA are top concerns for voters

Health care affordability remains a top concern for American voters, many of whom still struggle to pay for basic medical services and coverage, according to a poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). At the same time, support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has remained largely steady despite ongoing political debates around the law.

The KFF Health Tracking Poll, conducted in February 2024, surveyed a nationally representative sample of over 1,309 adult voters on their views and experiences regarding health care costs and the ACA. 

Americans across the political spectrum report feeling “very” or “somewhat worried” about their ability to afford unplanned medical bills (74%) or the overall cost of healthcare services (73%) for themselves and their families. Additionally, 55% of participants report worrying about prescription drug cost affordability. Even among those with health insurance, nearly half (48%) express concern about paying their monthly premiums.

When asked about specific aspects of health care affordability, the poll revealed several worrying trends. A quarter of voters said they or a family member have put off or postponed getting health care they needed in the past year due to cost. This includes delaying or skipping doctor visits, treatments, tests or procedures. For uninsured patients the problem is worse, with 61% reporting skipping needed medical care because of the cost. 

The poll found that public support for the ACA remains relatively steady; 59% of participants report a favorable view of the law though democrats and republicans have clear differences on how they want the law to look in the future. Democrats overwhelmingly want to expand the ACA (77%)  while Republicans want to either limit the law (23%) or repeal it entirely (39%). 

Democrats also ranked the future of the ACA as a “very important” issue (71%) heading into the election compared to Republican voters (36%). 

With health care affordability emerging as a top issue, addressing these challenges will be vital for both the Harris and Trump campaigns.