Washington Statewide Poll on Consumer Expectations and Experiences with Health Care Costs and Coverage in 2022
A new poll from Impact and EMC Research on behalf of Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) finds that voters see high out-of-pocket costs as the biggest issue in health care. With 66% agreeing that the costs of health care are going up more than other things they need, Washingtonians are ready to support politicians who make lowering out-of-pocket costs a priority.
The main problem: out-of-pocket costs are too high.
Washington voters point to out-of-pocket costs by more than a 2-to-1 margin over the next highest option – lacking access to mental health services.
What do you think is the single biggest issue people face with the health care system in Washington today?
Washingtonians are feeling the strain of inflation, and that includes the prices they are paying for gas and energy, food, and health care. In fact, 77% of voters say the amount they pay out of pocket for health care seems to be going up every year, and 74% feel that insurance companies nickel and dime consumers with out-of-pocket costs.
Cost increases and the unpredictability of out-of-pocket costs lead as the drivers of concerns about health care costs.
54% of Washington voters say at some point they’ve skipped or delayed care out of concerns over out-of-pocket costs.
Washingtonians want their elected officials to take action to lower out-of-pocket health care costs. More than 7-in-10 voters (73%) say they are more likely to support a candidate who makes reducing health care costs their top priority, including strong majorities of persuadable voters (68%) and Independents (62%).
Washington voters feel that placing a cap on the amount insurers can make patients pay for out-of-pocket costs, capping insurance deductibles at a level that is low enough that people don’t go into debt when getting the health care they need, and requiring health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers to pass the rebates or discounts they receive from drug companies on to patients would be effective policy solutions to lowering health care costs.
Capping costs and regulating pharmacy benefits are the policies voters think will do the most to reduce health care costs.
Voters believe these policies will reduce costs.
Read more about the findings of our latest health care survey below: