What Americans Really Want in the Next President
Tom Zawierucha, 58, a building services worker in New Jersey, wishes candidates would talk more about protecting older Americans from big medical bills.
Teresa Morton, 43, a freight dispatcher in Memphis, Tennessee, with two teenagers, wants to hear more about how elected officials would help working Americans saddled with unaffordable deductibles.
Yessica Gray, 28, a customer support representative in Wisconsin, craves relief from high drug prices and medical bills that have driven her and her husband deep into debt. “How much are we going to pay?” she said. “It’s just something that’s always on my mind.”
Health care isn’t getting the attention it deserves in the upcoming presidential campaign, despite Americans’ growing concerns about paying for medical care.
Two in 3 U.S. adults are worried about a major health event landing them in debt, according to a recent nationwide poll by West Health and Gallup.
To delve deeper into voters’ health care concerns, KFF Health News collaborated with nonpartisan research firm PerryUndem to conduct focus groups with 16 individuals from across the country.
The focus group participants shared a common frustration – the lack of detailed plans from presidential candidates on addressing the challenges of medical expenses.
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Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have differing approaches to health care, but most focus group participants feel uninformed about these proposals and are skeptical about meaningful change.
Issues of corporate greed and high medical prices in the U.S. were also raised during the focus groups, contributing to the overall dismay about the current state of health care.
Voters are longing for a candidate who will prioritize health care concerns and provide relief from the mounting burden of medical bills.
