In brief
A recent AP-NORC poll indicates that healthcare concerns have surged among Americans, with nearly 40% highlighting it as a government priority. Many are grappling with rising costs, particularly due to changes in Medicaid and healthcare policies under the previous administration. As concerns about inflation and high living costs also persist, the shifting priorities could influence the upcoming midterm elections.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Julia Dvorak is worried her 83-year-old mother’s emergency room trips for seizures are depleting her retirement savings and will soon force her to go on Medicaid.
At the same time, Dvorak, who’s 56 and suffers from a chronic knee condition that keeps her on state and federal assistance, expects her own health costs to go up next year.
It’s the kind of financial squeeze that has made health care a growing concern for Americans, according to a new AP-NORC poll that asked people to share their top priorities for the government to address in 2026.
The uptick on health care was much sharper than on other commonly mentioned issues. It comes after President Trump’s administration reduced spending on Medicaid, a safety net program for poor people, and decided to end subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, guaranteeing a steep rise in costs for millions.
The changes could return health care to center stage in next year’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.
“I see how it affects me and my loved ones,” Dvorak said about the cost of health care. “But I also know it’s affecting other people, and it’s getting worse.”
About 4 in 10 U.S. adults named health care or health issues in an open-ended question on government priorities, up from one-third last year. For adults aged 45 to 59, health care is particularly critical due to escalating costs before Medicare eligibility.
Among concerns about inflation, healthcare ranks high, with individuals like Joshua Campbell, a Republican, expressing surprise at the rising costs for coverage.
Despite the spike, immigration and broader economic concerns remain pressing, yet confidence in government effectiveness has dropped, with two-thirds of U.S. adults expressing skepticism about progress on key issues. The poll underscores a significant shift in American priorities as the nation approaches the midterm elections.
