U.S. Adults Express Satisfaction with Health Insurance, Yet Challenges Persist
A recent NBC News Decision Desk Poll conducted with SurveyMonkey reveals that a significant majority of American adults are content with their health insurance. This includes a large portion of older adults and those enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.
Underlying Frustrations with Coverage
Despite the overall satisfaction, nearly 25% of participants reported experiencing coverage denials or delays from their insurers over the past two years.
High Satisfaction Among Older Adults
Overall, 82% of respondents expressed satisfaction with their health insurance, with one-third stating they are very satisfied. Notably, 90% of those over 65 years old reported satisfaction, and 42% of them are very satisfied.
Public vs. Private Insurance Satisfaction
Approximately 90% of individuals with Medicare or Medicaid are satisfied with their coverage, compared to 77% of those with private insurance.
Health Care Affordability and Policy Changes
These findings highlight the complexities in the ongoing national debate about health care affordability. As the country anticipates major changes to Medicaid and potential cost increases, the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains uncertain, with premiums expected to rise unless Congress extends subsidies.
Younger Americans and Insurance Dissatisfaction
Younger adults, particularly those under 45, are more likely to express dissatisfaction with their insurance. This sentiment is shared by college graduates and political independents.
Insurance Denials and Delays: A Growing Concern
The issue of insurance claim denials and delays is gaining attention, with 24% of Americans reporting such experiences in the past two years. This topic is central to a high-profile case in New York involving Luigi Mangione.
Gender Disparities in Coverage Issues
Women are more likely than men to report delays or denials in their coverage, with 27% of women experiencing these issues compared to 21% of men.
Public vs. Private Coverage Delays
Those with private insurance are slightly more likely (26%) to face coverage delays or denials than those with public insurance (23%).
Opinions on the Affordable Care Act
Regarding the ACA, 46% of respondents prefer to keep it, while 24% favor its repeal. Another 31% remain undecided.
Partisan Views on Health Care
Both private and public insurance holders show similar support for retaining the ACA, with 47% and 46% respectively. Majorities of Democrats, Black Americans, and young adults also support keeping the ACA.
Republican Perspectives on Repeal
Conversely, 56% of Republicans and 69% of those aligned with the “Make America Great Again” movement advocate for repealing the ACA. This view is shared by 40% of men aged 65 and older.
Trust in Political Parties on Health Care Costs
As health insurance costs become a pivotal issue for the 2026 midterm elections, 57% of respondents trust the Democratic Party to manage these costs, compared to 43% who favor the Republican Party.
Gender Differences in Political Trust
Women tend to trust Democrats more on health care issues (64% vs. 36%), while men are evenly divided at 50% each.
The NBC News Decision Desk Poll, conducted online with 20,252 adults from Nov. 20 to Dec. 8, has a margin of error of ±1.9 percentage points. Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.
Stephanie Perry is the manager of exit polling at NBC News.
Marc Trussler
Marc Trussler is the director of data science at the Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies (PORES).
