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A recent poll indicates growing concerns among voters across political lines about rising health insurance premiums, as the U.S. government shutdown enters its 24th day—the second longest in history. According to a survey conducted by Data for Progress and Groundwork Collaborative, 75% of likely voters, including 83% of Democrats, 72% of Independents, and 69% of Republicans, expressed concern over rapidly increasing insurance costs. This marks an increase from 72% of respondents who shared similar concerns just a week prior.
The survey also found that 56% of voters, including 85% of Democrats, 65% of Independents, and 23% of Republicans, do not believe that President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers are focused on reducing healthcare costs for average Americans. A majority of respondents continue to hold the president and GOP lawmakers primarily responsible for the ongoing government shutdown, consistent with previous findings from the same polling organizations.
These results align with another recent survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which reported that 6 out of 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” worried about their healthcare costs rising in the coming year.
Elizabeth Pancotti, managing director of policy and advocacy at Groundwork, commented that “while the president’s main priority may be his brand new ballroom, American voters have made their priority loud and clear: Averting the healthcare premium cliff that will more than double their insurance premiums.”
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President Trump departed for Asia late Friday, amid mounting criticism in the U.S. over the ongoing government shutdown and the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to construct a large ballroom funded by weapons manufacturers, technology companies, private equity firms, and other corporate donors.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party confirmed that the U.S. House of Representatives will not return to Washington, D.C., next week. While the House had passed a funding bill before the shutdown, it failed to gain approval in the Senate, where Democratic support is necessary. Democrats have called for reversing Republican cuts to Medicaid and extending expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but the GOP has refused to accommodate these requests.
The open enrollment period for ACA plans begins on November 1. According to a report by The Washington Post, premiums for the most popular plans available on Healthcare.gov are expected to rise by an average of 30% next year, based on final rates approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Without legislative action from congressional Democrats, tens of millions of Americans could face significant premium increases, in addition to an estimated 10 million people potentially losing Medicaid coverage. Pancotti stated that “instead of acting to prevent healthcare price hikes for the American people, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are playing games with people’s lives.”
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