Study Reveals Americans’ Top Health Priorities
New survey research reveals that Americans believe the government’s top public health priority should be lowering costs for health care and prescription drugs. The market firm Ipsos and news website Axios teamed up for the first quarterly Axios-Ipsos American Health Index, building on their work with the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey’s goal is to shed light on health-related behaviors.
Half of Americans surveyed say the government’s number one public health priority should be lowering costs for health care and prescription drugs. For comparison, reducing gun deaths and researching cures for major diseases tied for the second-place priority, each with just 14% of respondents’ votes.
“These public health challenges are important, but for the typical American, it’s the bite out of their pocketbook that is even more important. Today in America, making ends meet is an increasing challenge, so the No. 1 health priority returns back to the overall priority for most Americans, being able to afford the basic necessities of life.”
– Cliff Young, president of Ipsos U.S. Public Affairs
Survey respondents disagree that American businesses or the government prioritize consumers’ health and well-being. They further share that the biggest threats to public health are opioids and fentanyl (26%), obesity (21%) and access to guns or firearms (17%). Additionally, most Americans report good overall health, including emotional and financial health. However, there seems to be room for improvement as smaller percentages of people ranked the following as “very good:” diet (21%), physical health (27%) and personal finances (29%).
What Does This Mean?
Many Americans believe the government’s top public health priority should be lowering health care and prescription drug costs. Many people are making health-related decisions based on their wallets and are feeling strained.
Employers should continue to monitor health care trends, utilization and spending. Contact Hoffman Insurance Group, LLC for more health care resources.
