Health care remains a significant concern for voters in the United States, with a May 2024 Pew poll indicating that it is the third-highest priority issue for voters, garnering 57% of respondents’ attention. This emphasis on health care is particularly beneficial for President Biden, as he enjoys a modest advantage over former President Trump on the issue, with 39% of respondents in an ABC News/Ipsos poll trusting Biden on health care compared to 34% who prefer Trump.
The high priority given to health care is noteworthy because it contributes to the economic stress Americans are experiencing, with inflation and the rising cost of living outpacing other issues in polls. Voters often include rising health care costs among their critical expenses, with a recent KFF tracking poll showing that health care tops the list of basic expenses Americans worry about, even surpassing concerns about gas, food, and rent. Nearly three-quarters of adults in that KFF poll expressed concern about paying for unexpected medical bills and other health costs.
Health care is also a relevant policy issue for Latino voters, who trail other racial and ethnic groups in access to health insurance and medical care. A recent UnidosUS poll found that health care was the third-highest policy priority for registered Latino voters, behind only the rising cost of living and jobs/the economy. When asked to clarify their concerns about health care, Latino voters most commonly cite the cost of health care (premiums, deductibles, etc.), prescription costs, and the quality of care.
Interestingly, health care tends to be a particularly relevant policy issue among Latino voters who are moving to the left in their partisan preferences. A sizable 38% of Latino self-identified Republicans reporting greater openness to Democrats in 2024 identify health care as a top issue of concern, with premiums and prescription drug costs most often identified as the root of these Republicans’ concerns.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes provisions that can directly address voters’ concerns about health care costs, such as allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for some of the most expensive drugs and capping the total out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs for all Medicare patients. However, the challenge for President Biden remains effectively communicating these policy advancements to voters.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will continue to be a significant factor for voters some 14 years after it was passed by former President Obama. The popularity of the ACA makes it a dangerous environment for Republicans, as former President Trump has suggested he would repeal the law if elected. The KFF poll found that more adults want to see the program expanded rather than scaled back, and there has been a recent surge in insurance enrollments, with a record 21.3 million people signed up for coverage already in 2024—a quarter of those being new consumers of health insurance.
As the 2024 election approaches, health care may ultimately decide the election outcome. The candidate who can persuade the American public that they have the best plan to reduce the costs of health care expenditures will emerge victorious and has the opportunity to tackle the rising costs of health insurance, prescription drugs, and other medical costs.
