Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, there's been at least one big change to the health care environment: More people have coverage, evidenced by the fact that less than 12 percent of Americans are uninsured, according to a recent poll conducted by Gallup.
But in terms of costs, it's history repeating, as nearly half of policyholders expect they'll be paying more for coverage this year than they did in 2015, a new survey suggests.
Almost 45 percent of Americans project their health insurance costs will be greater this year than they were 12 months ago, according to a recent survey conducted by personal finance website Go Banking Rates. More specifically, approximately 1 in 4 said they'd probably pay "a little more" while 1 in 5 expected to pay much more. The study didn't distinguish between those who had an individual plan – bought through HealthCare.gov, for example – of if they received employee benefits.
Most seniors expect costs to rise
Older Americans are especially of the mind that they'll be paying more for health insurance this year. Approximately 49 percent of people 65 and older said they anticipate health care taking up a greater share of their earnings, the poll found. Meanwhile, only 14 percent said they expect to be paying less this year than they have in the past.
As with the cost of living – with the possible exception of fuel expenses – health care costs rarely diminish. Medical tests and procedures cost money for hospitals to perform and inflation plays a role as well. They do diminish now and then, however, and Hawaii residents believe they'll be the fortunate recipients of said savings. Along with the Aloha State, Iowa and Oklahoma residents were the only states where most though they wouldn't be spending as much for health insurance this year, according to the Go Banking Rates survey. Respondents from the remaining 47 states felt health premiums would either rise or stay the same.
Health care maintains 'top issue' status
With this being an election year, much of the nation is focused on what America's biggest problems are and how to solve them through sound policies implemented by lawmakers in Washington D.C. The cost of health care – as well as its availability – has consistently been a top issue over the years. It remains a problem in need of a solution, many Americans said in a study. Approximately three-quarters of Republicans believe health care and the Affordable Care Act to be an area of chief concern for the country, a recent poll from Gallup found. Slightly more Democrats felt the same way at nearly 85 percent.
Frank Newport, Gallup's editor in chief, noted that Democrats and Republicans may not be like-minded on much, but they're eye to eye on what America's challenges are.
"Republicans and Democrats alike generally agree that the presidential candidates – and the next president, whoever that might be – should focus on the economy, on jobs, on terrorism and national security and on health care," said Newport.
They are somewhat divided on the Affordable Care Act, however. Generally speaking, Republicans believe Obamacare to be ineffective – citing the high cost of coverage – and ought to be repealed and replaced. Among Democrats, the consensus seems to be that the health care law, though flawed, has been a success, citing how more people now have access to health insurance, something many didn't have before. As a result, Obamacare ought to be improved upon, not scrapped.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which supports the Affordable Care Act, 20 million people have gained coverage thanks to Obamacare.
