Washington, D.C. — Today, Americans for Health Excellence (AFHE), released a new national poll finding health insurance costs are the single greatest healthcare concern facing American voters today and that broad, bipartisan majorities are demanding action from insurers.
The survey also reveals support for a number of market-based solutions to lower what Americans pay for prescription drugs and medical care, including many policies included in the President’s Great American Health Plan.
“For the sake of our nation and her health, American patients need relief, and they need it now,” said Dr. Brad Wenstrup, AFHE executive director. “America is the greatest country in the world for medical innovation and cures, and Congress has an extraordinary opportunity to protect that legacy while delivering on the affordability agenda President Trump started. There is more that we can do.”
KEY FINDINGS
Ending “Foreign Freeloading” Has Broad Backing
Nearly three-quarters of voters (72%) say it is time for other countries to pay their fair share for American medicines. Support for specific legislative action is even higher: 81% back using trade negotiations to demand fair pricing from foreign nations, and 73% support legislation explicitly ending “foreign freeloading” on U.S. drug innovation.
Health Insurance Costs Are Voters’ #1 Healthcare Concern and Voters Want Accountability
Fifty-one percent of voters name the cost of health insurance as their top healthcare concern—rising to 69% when combined with voters’ second choice. The remaining concerns are fragmented: cost of hospital bills (11%), cost of medicines (10%), quality of care (10%), access to healthcare (7%), and patient choice in doctors or treatments (6%). The dominance of insurance costs holds across party lines and is especially acute among voters with private insurance (76% combined) and seniors (72% combined).
The survey’s sharpest finding is that 91% of voters, including strong majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, support requiring insurers to pass manufacturer discounts directly to patients rather than keeping them. Eighty-four percent want insurers to publicly disclose their revenue, overhead, and profit margins, and 83% support publishing claim rejection rates and average wait times.
When asked whether taxpayer subsidies to large insurance companies should be redirected to families to buy coverage of their choice, voters backed the idea 81 to 11. Requiring insurers to publish revenues and ending insurance subsidies are both central provisions of President Trump’s Great American Health Plan.
Pocketbook Solutions Command the Highest Voter Support Across the Board
The most popular proposals which draw the strongest support are those that put direct, tangible savings in patients’ hands. Eighty-eight percent of voters back allowing manufacturer co-pay cards for seniors in Medicare, 86% support expanding the number of brand-name medicines available at discounted cash-pay pricing through a government website, and 83% favor both a flat out-of-pocket cap per prescription in Medicare and cash-pay credits that count toward insurance deductibles.
Voluntary Deals Beat Government Mandates
On prescription drug pricing, voters draw a clear distinction between negotiations and mandates. By nearly two-to-one (55 to 29%), respondents said voluntary price negotiations between the federal government and drug manufacturers are more productive than government-dictated prices through law or executive order. Three-quarters (73%) specifically back President Trump’s Most Favored Nation voluntary pricing approach.
Voter sentiment was firm: 83% say that with pharmaceutical manufacturers already at the table, it is time for insurers and hospitals to do their part—a view shared by 93% of Republicans, 81% of Independents, and 75% of Democrats.
ABOUT THE POLL
McLaughlin & Associates conducted a survey among 2,000 likely voters between March 10–14, 2026. All interviews were conducted online. The interview distribution and demographics reflect a 2026 general election turnout model. The accuracy of the sample of 2,000 likely voters is within +/- 2.2% at a 95% confidence interval. Numbers in this survey have been rounded and may not equal 100%.
ABOUT AMERICANS FOR HEALTH EXCELLENCE
Americans for Health Excellence (AFHE) is a 501(c)(4) health policy organization dedicated to building a healthcare system that puts patients first — lowering costs, expanding access, and ensuring every American has the tools and information to make the best healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. AFHE advances market-based solutions while engaging all in the healthcare system on behalf of patient health.
For more information, visit AmericansforHealthExcellence.org.
