66% of U.S. Residents Satisfied With Health Care System, Poll Finds

Sixty-six percent of U.S. residents say they are satisfied with the current state of the U.S. health care system, while 32% say they are dissatisfied, according to a Gallup poll released Monday, The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports (Shabad, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 3/17).

Poll Details

The poll is based on telephone surveys of 1,542 adults that were conducted between March 10 and March 15. According the Washington Times, the surveys did not include questions about the Affordable Care Act.

Poll Findings

According to Gallup, health insurance played a key factor in satisfaction ratings. For example:

• Among insured respondents, 72% said they are satisfied with the current state of the health care system, compared with 26% who said they are dissatisfied; and
• Among uninsured respondents, 33% said they are satisfied and 59% said they are dissatisfied.

Satisfaction ratings also correlated with party affiliation, the Times reports. About eight of 10 respondents who identified themselves as Democrats said they are satisfied with the current state of the health care system, compared with about six out of 10 Republicans and independents (Sherfinski, Washington Times, 3/17).

According to "Healthwatch," the poll also found that young and elderly people are most likely to be satisfied with the health care system.

Although younger individuals are less likely to have health insurance, 73% of them said they are satisfied with the current health care system. Among respondents older than age 65 who are eligible for Medicare, 80% said they are satisfied with the current system.

Meanwhile, 60% of respondents ages 30 to 49 and 56% of respondents ages 50 to 64 said they are satisfied with the health care system ("Healthwatch," The Hill, 3/17).