According to a news release from Reuters, two-thirds of US adults say they are in favor of a health care system that is paid for and administered by the federal government. Saying it another way means that a “Medicare for all” system has gained in preference among non-Medicare-age citizens. This percentage is up 14% from 2020. This message came out of a poll conducted by a health care policy research firm called KFF, formerly called the Kaiser Family Foundation. It is located in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
The reason for this change is the persistently high costs of health care which have done nothing but worsen in spite of the “Affordable Care Act.” KFF says that health care expenses are the biggest economic concern for Americans above gasoline and food prices. Sixty percent say they are somewhat, or very, worried about current and future health care costs.
Breaking the percentages down by political groups we learn the following:
Overall 67% of US adults favor universal health insurance
Those identifying as Democrats are 84% in favor of Medicare for all
Those who are independents are 72% in favor
Those identifying as Republicans, 66% OPPOSED the idea
When those polled were told private insurance would be eliminated, support dropped to 52%
In the same poll, both conservatives and liberals supported a “complete redesign of the U.S. healthcare system.” The high costs of premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket totals have been factors in public discontent. That, plus lousy customer service, give the public many reasons to desire a change. What isn’t mentioned in this scenario is while it’s true a single payer system will reduce costs for patients, customer service will be significantly worse. Longer waits for appointments and services, massive red tape to get approval for procedures, and a disgruntled, disrespected, and undercompensated medical profession will make interaction with the health care system a nightmarish experience. When US adults were told about these problems, their enthusiasm for “Medicare for all” decreased significantly.
In 2026, 30 million Americans have no health insurance. That’s 3.4 million more uninsured people than in 2025. Medicare for all solves this problem, true, but when the 70 million Americans currently on Medicare already consume one-seventh of the American economy, adding 270 million souls to the Medicare rolls plus continuing the Social Security obligation to retirees and the disabled, the additional financial burden will overwhelm the system and bankrupt our economy.
However, when people are told this system would transform health insurance from a privilege to a right, and that the patient is not directly responsible to cover the cost of care, “Medicare for all” becomes a desirable choice again.
Reference: Niasse A. Most Americans Support Switch to Medicare for All Health Insurance. medscape.com 2026 October 6.
