The most recent Kaiser Health Tracking Poll was conducted during an exceptionally violent week. Concerns about terrorism and gun policy outranked jobs and the economy and healthcare as voter priorities.
If voters were picking a president based on their healthcare views, Democrat Hillary Clinton would have an advantage. But a new poll finds voters’ minds are on terrorism and gun policy, which are even edging jobs and the economy as top concerns as both candidates get ready for their conventions.
The Kaiser Health Tracking Poll released Friday shows that 6 years after passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more voters trust Democrats (49%) than Republicans (38%) to do a better job with its future, even though more Americans view the law unfavorably. Only 40% of voters view the law favorably, compared with 47% unfavorably.
When asked which candidate for president best represents their views on healthcare, more voters chose Clinton (46%) than Republican Donald Trump (32%). Another 15% said “neither.”
On individual healthcare issues, Democrats fare better than Republicans among core groups: more seniors think the party will protect Medicare (45% for Democrats vs 41% for Republicans). More women trust Democrats on reproductive health issues (62%) than Republicans (27%). Democrats are also faring better on more current healthcare topics: the party fares better on controlling prescription drug costs (50% vs 32%), on combatting the Zika virus (45% vs 31%), and on finding solutions to the opioid crisis (41% vs 34%).
The trouble for Democrats, however, is that healthcare and the ACA have tumbled down the list of priorities in the wake of terrorist attacks and eruptions of gun violence. Asked which issues will influence their vote, 46% said candidates’ positions on terrorism and national security were “extremely” important, and 46% also said they were motivated by a candidate’s personal qualities, including leadership skills, character, and experience. The share of voters who cared about personal qualities was about the same for Democrats (47%), Republicans (45%), and independents (46%).
Gun policy (38%) edged out jobs and the economy (37%), which both came in slightly ahead of healthcare (37%) as issues that are extremely important. There’s divergence, however, on priorities depending on party affiliation. Republicans rate terrorism/national security as the top issue (63%), while Democrats are more concerned with education (46%), and independents also eye terrorism (43%) as a priority after personal qualities.
When asked what “health” issue mattered most, Democrats and independents said healthcare costs are their top priority (43% and 37%, respectively), while Republicans’ top issue is the ACA itself (44%). The next top health issue for Republicans was cost; for Democrats and independents, it was increasing access for those who remain uninsured.
The share of Americans who know someone who has been addicted to prescription painkillers is 43%, and 1 in 5 Americans (19%) has a family member who is addicted. These shares are about the same Kaiser’s findings in April, when the tracking poll asked extensively about opioid abuse.
Results are based on questions asked to 1212 adults who were contacted July 5-11, 2016. This was a violent week in America, as social media and news broadcasts erupted with reports of police shootings of men in Louisiana and Minnesota, and of a lone gunman shooting and killing police officers in Dallas.
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
Listen
Polatuzumab Vedotin and R-CHP Appropriate for Untreated DLBCL
April 24th 2024Population pharmacokinetic and exposure-response analyses revealed a favorable benefit-risk profilane for the treatment combination of polatuzumab vedotin and rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP).
Read More
What We’re Reading: Abortion Privacy Rules; Alzheimer Drug Hurdles; Nursing Home Staffing Overhaul
April 23rd 2024New health privacy rules aim to protect patients and providers in an evolving abortion landscape; some physicians express concerns about efficacy, risks, and entrenched beliefs in treating Alzheimer disease; CMS addresses longstanding staffing deficits in nursing homes.
Read More