Voters say health care costs are their top concern

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Families USA is releasing a new poll conducted by Hart Research Associates showing that lowering health care costs is the top priority for American voters across party lines, even surpassing housing, jobs, crime, and immigration. Fielded September 25-29, this poll shows that health care costs were a top priority even before the government shutdown thrust health care tax credits into the spotlight. The poll of 1,502 registered voters nationwide reveals near-unanimous bipartisan support not only for extending health care tax credits but for broader reforms to bring down costs.

"Regardless of where you live, your income, your type of insurance, or your politics—nearly every American believes unreasonable health care costs are an urgent issue for Congress and the President to take on," said Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Families USA.

"We appreciate those members of Congress fighting to protect Medicaid funding and health insurance tax credits right now–and this poll shows voters agree on those immediate fights and on bigger, broader reforms to take on the corporate systems driving high health prices. . Leaders should note the rare and broad consensus to take on health care costs head-on. Voters right, left and center are feeling the urgency and will reward those who take up the cause of getting health care costs under control."

Key findings from the poll include:

• Health care costs are the top priority for American voters: 43% of voters say lowering health care costs is the most important issue for Congress and the President to address—surpassing housing (35%), jobs (31%), immigration (24%), and crime (21%). Health care affordability ranks as the number one priority for Democrats and Independents and the second priority for Republicans.

• 91% of voters say it's important that Congress and the President act to lower health care costs. The poll also reveals why Americans want action: 42% say the most important reason for Congress to reduce health care costs is to reduce stress on family budgets and bring down the cost of living, while 36% say it's to give access to health care to those who cannot afford it now.
• Bipartisan support for common-sense health care reforms that put money back in people's pockets. Voters across party lines believe the following bold actions will be most effective at immediately bringing down costs:
  • Eliminating legal loopholes that allow health care providers to overcharge (75%),
  • Restricting aggressive billing practices like surprise billing (73%),
  • Reducing unnecessary middlemen between patients and providers, who increase costs (72%)
  • Have the government set direct limits on the prices that providers can charge (64%)

• Overwhelming support and virtually no opposition to health care cost solutions that are actively pending in Congress, including:
  • Require all hospitals to disclose rates they charge in dollars and cents (91%),
  • Prohibiting systems from charging Medicare more for the same procedure if performed at a hospital facility instead of a doctor's office (84%),
  • Prohibit Medicare Advantage companies from exaggerating health risks to get paid more (79%),
  • Extending enhanced premium tax credits (73%).

"After an election on affordability, Congress should be moving quickly on health care tax credits, many other pending proposals–from reforms of Medicare Advantage payments to ensuring hospitals are paid the same price for the same service," said Wright. "Frankly, tax credits should be the easy part - followed by a bigger and bolder affordability agenda on our health care cost crisis that the American people are clearly demanding."

The findings show health care affordability is a top concern across demographic groups, with 47% of women, 49% of seniors, 47% of Latino voters, and 45% of small town and rural voters citing it as their number one priority. When asked about specific health care prices, voters rated them overwhelmingly unreasonable: 85% for hospital fees, 83% for medical devices, 81% for specialist fees, and 80% for prescription drugs.