The percentage of Americans worried that cost is the “most urgent health problem” in the U.S. rose from 23% a year ago to 29% this year, according to a Gallup Poll released in December 2025. The organization says that is highest level recorded since 2004. The highest level recorded by the polling organization was 30% in 1992.
Access is the biggest concern for 17% of respondents. Eight percent said obesity is the biggest health care concern.
LOW SATISFACTION RATINGS
In addition, only 16% of respondents said that they were satisfied with the cost of health care, down from 19% the year before. The high-water mark for this measurement was 30% in the first year of he pandemic.
However, fully 57% said that they are satisfied with their own health care costs. The authors of the report on the Gallup organization’s website says that similarly, respondents tended to few their own health care coverage as excellent or good. However, only 24$ rate health care coverage nationally at the excellent or good level.
A SYSTEM IN TROUBLE
- 23% said it is in a “state of crisis”
- 47% said it has “major problems”
- 26% said it has “minor” problems
- 3% said it is free of problems
