46% of Americans are skeptical of Trump’s policies to lower health care costs

Almost half of the U.S. public (46%) believes that the country is headed in the “wrong direction” when it comes to President-elect Donald Trump’s policies to lower health care costs, according to the latest West Health-Gallup survey. Three in 10 (31%) of Americans believe the country is on the right track. Just one-third of the country are optimistic that the incoming Trump administration’s policies will bring down health care costs (32%) or prescription drug prices (34%).

Attitudes differ by political affiliation

Results of the survey do fall largely along partisan lines, with Democrats overwhelmingly worried that the future of policy on health care costs is headed in the wrong direction (84%), in agreement with 48% of independents and 7% of Republicans. Most Republicans, however, believe that the country is headed in the right direction under the new Trump administration (73%). Just 24% of independents and 3% of Democrats agree. Americans’ feelings on prescription drug prices similarly fall along party lines, with the collective slightly 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 health care policy,” Timothy Lash, president, West Health Policy Center, said in a news release. “Political independents, however, remain highly pessimistic, which may better reflect the realities and consequences of a high-prices health care system more than the politics or personalities behind it.”

Low confidence regarding key health care policies

When survey respondents were asked about Trump’s impact on key health care policies—including protections for Medicare and Social Security, increasing access to mental health care, lowering prescription drug prices, capping insulin prices and expanding Medicare negotiation—the majority of Americans expressed doubts that these issues would be prioritized by the Trump administration.

• 56% do not believe that protecting Medicare and Social Security will be prioritized.
• 63% do not believe that expanding access to mental health care will be prioritized.
• 57% do not believe that the administration will prioritize lowering prescription drug costs.
• 58% do not believe that capping insulin at $35 for everyone will be prioritized.
• 60% do not believe that the new administration will expand Medicare negotiation.

Americans united in health care concerns

Several West Health-Gallup surveys from recent years have demonstrated shared concerns about health care affordability across the political spectrum. Republicans, Democrats and independents alike are concerned that their households will be unable to afford needed health care. Similarly, many individuals across political affiliations have expressed concerns that Medicare will no longer be available by the time they become eligible, and more than half of Democrats and Republicans believed that not enough attention was given to health care during the 2024 presidential election.

Americans across political affiliations also agree that federal law should require that health insurance companies provide coverage for mental health care and substance-abuse treatment that is equal to what they provide for physical health care. Additionally, most Democrats, Republicans and independents agree that Medicare should include home care.

“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 Sarah Fioroni, senior researcher, Gallup.

The West Health-Gallup Postelection Healthcare Survey was conducted through the online Gallup Panel from November 11-18, 2024, collecting answers from a nationally representative sample of 3,583 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. West Health Policy Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with a focus on health care and aging.