WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 — Nearly half of Americans (46%) think the country is headed in the wrong direction when it comes to the incoming president’s policies to lower healthcare costs, while 31% say it’s on the right track, according to the latest West Health-Gallup survey released today.
When viewed through a political lens, only Republicans are more positive than negative about the future of healthcare costs under the Trump administration; nearly three-quarters (73%) think the incoming administration’s healthcare policies are headed in the right direction. In contrast, 24% of independents and 3% of Democrats say the same. Democrats overwhelmingly think the yet-to-be-detailed policies are going in the wrong direction (84%), and nearly half of political independents (48%) agree.
Findings on prescription drug prices fall along similar party lines, but Americans are generally more negative than positive on Trump’s policies to bring prices down (41% vs. 34%).
“The survey reflects a deep divide across party affiliation about the future of healthcare policy,” said Timothy Lash, president, West Health Policy Center — a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on healthcare and aging. “Political independents, however, remain highly pessimistic, which may better reflect the realities and consequences of a high-priced healthcare system more than the politics or personalities behind it.”
Political independents comprise approximately four in 10 U.S. adults , ahead of Republicans (30%) and Democrats (26%).
Low Confidence in Policy Action
Only one-third of Americans are optimistic that the incoming Trump administration’s policies will bring down the cost of healthcare (32%) or prescription drugs (34%). When asked about specific healthcare priorities — including lowering drug costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, capping insulin prices, and addressing mental health within the U.S. healthcare system — overall, majorities of Americans express doubt that these issues would be prioritized in Trump’s second term.
- 57% do not believe the administration will prioritize lowering prescription drug costs.
- 58% do not think capping insulin for everyone at $35 will be a priority.
- 56% do not think protecting Medicare and Social Security will be a priority.
- 60% say they do not think the new administration will expand Medicare negotiation.
- 63% say expanding access to mental healthcare is unlikely to be prioritized.
Americans United in Concern Over Healthcare Costs
Americans across the political spectrum share concerns about healthcare affordability. Prior West Health-Gallup polling shows that a third or more of Republicans, Democrats and independents are concerned they will be unable to pay for needed healthcare. Other recent West Health-Gallup research also found that only about half or less of Democrats and Republicans rate U.S. healthcare quality as excellent or good, an all-time low.
“As Americans navigate an evolving political landscape, the data continue to show a clear and unified desire for meaningful policies that address the rising cost of care and the difficulty many have obtaining access,” said Gallup senior researcher Sarah Fioroni.
Methodology
The West Health-Gallup Survey was conducted via web Nov. 11-18, 2024, with a nationally representative sample of 3,583 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. The margin of sampling error is ±2.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
About West Health
Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations including the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego, and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at westhealth.org and follow @westhealth.
About Gallup
Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.
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