Four in 10 (40%) of US adults rate their healthcare as excellent, according to new data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
Healthcare Evaluations Mostly Positive
Americans’ evaluations of the quality of their own healthcare are among the most positive Gallup has found during the past decade, with the 40% rating their healthcare as excellent slightly higher than the previous high of 38% (2009), as well as the average of 34% during the past decade. A combined 82% rate their healthcare as either excellent or good, which is on par with previous years.
Privately Insured, Wealthy More Positive
Not surprisingly, Americans with private insurance and higher incomes are more likely to give their healthcare a positive rating. A combined 88% of privately insured respondents say their healthcare is excellent or good, compared to 82% with Medicaid/Medicare and 53% with no insurance.
When adding income to the demographic mix, Gallup analysis finds 92% of those making $75,000 or more with private insurance and 88% with Medicaid/Medicare rate their healthcare excellent or good (too few respondents in this category lack insurance to analyze the results).
Respondents making $30,000 to $74,999 have similar results if they are privately insured or have Medicaid/Medicare, while 58% with no insurance rate their healthcare excellent or good. However, among respondents earning less than $30,000, 77% of privately insured, 75% with Medicaid/Medicare, and 50% of uninsured say their healthcare is excellent or good.
Older More Satisifed
Beyond these factors, Gallup also finds that, regardless of income, older Americans are generally more satisfied with the quality of their healthcare than are younger Americans. This is particularly true among those living in low- and middle-income households.
Rate of Delaying Treatment Remains Elevated
Americans’ evaluations of their own healthcare are broadly positive, and, in terms of the percentage rating it “excellent,” have generally improved since 2001. During the same period, however, the percentage reporting that they or a family member has put off treatment because of cost increased from 19% in 2001 to 30% in 2006, and has generally remained at that level since. A record-high 21% now say they put off treatment for a serious condition.
Percentage of Uninsured Adults Up from ’08
As of October 2010, 16.6% of US adults lacks health insurance, according to other recent Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index data. The percentage of uninsured Americans shot up to 15.8% in November 2008, in the midst of the financial crisis, and entered into the 16% range in early 2009, where it has stayed ever since. When Gallup began tracking levels of health insurance coverage among US adults in January 2008, it found 14.8% lacked health insurance.
About the Data: Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Nov. 4-7, 2010, with a random sample of 1,021 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental US, selected using random-digit-dial sampling.
