Majority of Americans Satisfied with Health Insurance Amid Coverage Challenges

A recent NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey reveals that 82% of U.S. adults are satisfied with their health insurance coverage, with the highest satisfaction rates among older Americans aged 65 and over. Approximately 90% of those covered by Medicare or Medicaid indicated satisfaction with their insurance, compared to 77% with private coverage. These findings highlight the general contentment with public and private health insurance amidst ongoing debates about healthcare affordability and access in the U.S. Despite the overall satisfaction, nearly 24% of respondents reported experiencing delays or denials of coverage for services, treatments, or medications in the past two years. Women reported higher incidences of coverage delays or denials than men. Those with private insurance were slightly more likely to face these challenges than those with public plans. These issues add complexity to the national discourse surrounding healthcare delivery and insurance claims processes. The poll also underscores generational and political divides in attitudes toward the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Nearly half of respondents expressed a preference to retain the ACA, while about one-quarter favored repealing it. Younger adults, Democrats, Black Americans, and women under 30 mostly support keeping the ACA, whereas a majority of Republicans and older men expressed a preference for repeal. Trust in political parties' handling of health insurance costs also varied, with a majority trusting Democrats and a divided trust among men. These insights come at a critical time as Americans face rising healthcare premiums and planned Medicaid changes. The survey highlights the nuanced perspectives of different demographic groups on healthcare policy, insurance satisfaction, and challenges faced in accessing care. These trends will be important considerations for insurers, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders as healthcare costs and insurance coverage remain central issues in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. The survey conducted from November to December 2024 sampled over 20,000 U.S. adults, providing a representative view of current health insurance sentiments. Its results contribute valuable data to the ongoing evaluation of healthcare coverage effectiveness, public sentiment about government programs, and private insurance markets in the U.S.