Survey Finds Health Care Costs and Access Are Americans' Top Public Health Priorities

Gallup and Emory University poll highlights bipartisan support for federal action on affordability and access, with food and water safety also ranking high.

• A Gallup and Emory University survey of over 2,100 U.S. adults found that 52% ranked improving health care access and affordability among their top three public health priorities.
• Ensuring safe food and water was the second most common priority, with 37% listing it in their top three, followed by reducing chronic diseases at 32%.
• The survey revealed bipartisan agreement on the need for federal leadership in addressing health care access and affordability, though Republicans prioritized food and water safety more highly than Democrats.
• Respondents expressed pessimism about progress on key issues like the opioid crisis and mental health, with over half saying the U.S. has lost ground in these areas over the past decade.
• Doctors and health care providers were the most trusted sources of public health information, while social media and influencers ranked much lower in credibility.

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