2 Sticker Shock Within the economy’s slow but steady recovery is a continued struggle for many Americans to afford the things they need. While Americans feel the overall economy continues to move in the right direction, they remain worried about their own financial future. This poll digs into one of the other lingering concerns: the cost of things. Statistics show wage growth has yet to take off, and this survey confirms nearly half (45%) of Americans are finding it more difficult to afford things than they were last year, double the amount who are finding it easier (22%) – people don’t believe their lives have become more affordable. Necessities cause more concern – health care, gas, groceries, and bills. Fully half of Americans are finding it more difficult to afford health care costs, and it rises to the top when people are asked what worries them the most. Nearly as many say gas prices are also becoming less affordable, while a third are worried about groceries or other everyday expenses like phone bills, utilities (like gas, electricity or water), or food and evening entertainment with family. Americans want the government to do more to fix health care costs and gas prices. Almost eight in ten (78%) say the government should do something about health care costs – compared to just 28% who, for example, say the government should do more to help with credit card bills and debt payment. And while most Americans overall see a role for the government in making utilities, retirement savings, or college more affordable, only for health care and gas prices do majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and political independents all see a role for government in keeping costs down. navigatorresearch.org Health care, health care, health care. Health care is one area where Americans say costs are more difficult to manage, and there is a clear expectation for government to step in to help. Are you finding it more difficult to afford this since last year? Should government be doing more to make this affordable? Costs of health care, like prescription drugs, health insurance premiums, or doctor visits 49 Gas for your car’s gas tank 78 46 Groceries 35 Phone and internet bills 35 59 41 41 Utilities like gas, electricity, or water 33 55 Food or entertainment in the evenings with your family 32 16 Retirement savings 29 53 Housing costs like rent or a mortgage 27 49 Credit card bills and debt payments 24 28 College for you or your kids 14 52 Childcare and day-to-day cost of raising kids 12 42 5 2 The Politics of Health Care Prices Americans want something to be done about health care costs. They trust Democrats more to do it. Health care costs may be a bipartisan problem, but only one party is trusted to be part of the solution. The rising cost of health care shines through as a particular financial challenge for families across the country where people see the need for government action. While Americans do think government has a role to play, they place the most blame for rising health care costs on insurance companies and drug companies rather than either of the two political parties. But there’s a twist – when asked which party is more likely to let these companies do what they want when it comes to prices, they are more likely to name Republicans over Democrats, by 49% to 33%. It’s a problem that transcends partisanship. When asked about the rising costs of living more generally, it breaks down along party lines: Republicans see improvements; Democrats don’t. But when you name specific costs, like gas prices or groceries, Republicans are less positive and the partisan gap is smaller. Health care is the one cost area where affordability is cited as a problem by nearly equal shares of Democrats and Republicans (it is also the only expense cited as “more difficult” by the majority of white Americans without a college degree). Affording things in general More difficult since last year No change Easier since last year Total 45 33 22 Democrats 61 10 29 Republicans 29 43 29 Affording healthcare More difficult since last year Who is most worried about health care costs? 54 Women 53 52 49 6 37 Republicans 54 Easier since last year 39 Democrats 57 Living in rural areas Overall Does not apply to me Total 49 45-64 year olds Non-college educated whites No change 46 41 6 5 3 4 10 Independents trust Democrats in Congress on the issue. Respondents – including political independents – trust Democrats in Congress more than Republicans to handle the issue of health care affordability. Democrats lead on the “health care” issue in general, but they lead their Republican counterparts by even bigger margins when it comes to the specific challenges of making health care and prescription drugs more affordable. Making health care more affordable Democrats in Congress Don’t know enough to say Republicans in Congress Total 49 16 35 Independents 39 navigatorresearch.org 40 21 6