Research Shows Many Americans Unhappy with Health Care System
2022-09-13
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1A new public opinion study suggests that many Americans are dissatisfied with the nation's healthcare system.
2The Associated Press and the NORC research group at the University of Chicago released results of their joint investigation Monday.
3Less than half of the people asked for their opinion on U.S. healthcare said they were pleased with the system.
4Twelve percent, said it operates extremely well.
5AP-NORC researchers questioned 1,505 Americans.
6The majority expressed worry mainly about mental health care, the cost of medicine and the quality of care at nursing homes.
7Only six percent of those who answered said the U.S. does a good job at providing such health services.
8A. Mark Fendrick runs a research center at the University of Michigan that looks at the cost of healthcare.
9He said the American system is extremely frustrating and that the COVID-19 crisis had worsened the situation.
10Over two years after the global health crisis started affecting hospitals in the U.S.,
11 it is hard to find healthcare workers and those who are still working are suffering from what is known as "burnout."
12That means they are tired from working so much.
13Many hospitals and clinics still have COVID-19 restrictions in place,
14and some Americans say they are having trouble getting good care in-person as a result.
15Emmanuel Obeng-Dankwa of New York City was among those questioned in the study.
16He has high blood pressure, a condition that requires treatment with medicine.
17But, the cost is sometimes a problem for Obeng-Dankwa, especially when his housing payment is due.
18"If there's no money, I prefer to skip the medication to being homeless," he said.
19The new study shows that about 80 percent of people are at least a little bit concerned about getting good care when they need it.
20Fifty-three percent of women said they are extremely or very concerned about obtaining quality care, compared to 42 percent of men.
21Nearly 60 percent of Black and Hispanic adults said they were concerned about getting good care.
22White men expressed the most confidence in U.S. healthcare of all those studied.
23Racial disparities have long troubled America's health care system.
24They have been shown again during COVID-19, with Black and Hispanic people dying from the virus at a higher rate than whites.
25While many Americans seem to agree that there are problems with healthcare, very few agree on solutions.
26Compared to past years, however, about two-thirds of Americans believe government involvement could help.
27Some Americans want a fully public system for health insurance.
28Others want a mix of public and private health care.
29Retired nurse Pennie Wright, of Camden, Tennessee was among those questioned by AP-NORC.
30She does not like the idea of a government-run health care system.
31She moved to that system, known as Medicare, this year.
32She said she was surprised by how much she had to pay for her yearly doctor's visit.
33The amount included $200 for usual testing.
34Most of those costs had been covered by her former private health care plan.
35"I feel like we have the best health care system in the world, we have a choice of where we want to go," Wright said.
36Others would still like to see the government do more.
37For example, they would like to see the government help to pay the costs of helping people who need long-term care.
38They would also like the government to make a plan that would reduce the cost of medicine for everyone.
39That small change would help, says New Yorker Obeng-Dankwa.
40Maybe he would not have to choose between paying for his home and paying for his blood-pressure medicine.
41"Medication costs should be low, ... so that everyone can afford it," he said.
42He added: "those who are poor should be able to get all the necessary healthcare they need..."
43I'm Dan Friedell.
1A new public opinion study suggests that many Americans are dissatisfied with the nation's healthcare system. 2The Associated Press and the NORC research group at the University of Chicago released results of their joint investigation Monday. 3Less than half of the people asked for their opinion on U.S. healthcare said they were pleased with the system. Twelve percent, said it operates extremely well. 4AP-NORC researchers questioned 1,505 Americans. 5The majority expressed worry mainly about mental health care, the cost of medicine and the quality of care at nursing homes. Only six percent of those who answered said the U.S. does a good job at providing such health services. 6A. Mark Fendrick runs a research center at the University of Michigan that looks at the cost of healthcare. He said the American system is extremely frustrating and that the COVID-19 crisis had worsened the situation. 7Over two years after the global health crisis started affecting hospitals in the U.S., it is hard to find healthcare workers and those who are still working are suffering from what is known as "burnout." That means they are tired from working so much. 8Many hospitals and clinics still have COVID-19 restrictions in place, and some Americans say they are having trouble getting good care in-person as a result. 9Emmanuel Obeng-Dankwa of New York City was among those questioned in the study. He has high blood pressure, a condition that requires treatment with medicine. But, the cost is sometimes a problem for Obeng-Dankwa, especially when his housing payment is due. 10"If there's no money, I prefer to skip the medication to being homeless," he said. 11The new study shows that about 80 percent of people are at least a little bit concerned about getting good care when they need it. 12Fifty-three percent of women said they are extremely or very concerned about obtaining quality care, compared to 42 percent of men. 13Nearly 60 percent of Black and Hispanic adults said they were concerned about getting good care. 14White men expressed the most confidence in U.S. healthcare of all those studied. 15Racial disparities have long troubled America's health care system. They have been shown again during COVID-19, with Black and Hispanic people dying from the virus at a higher rate than whites. 16While many Americans seem to agree that there are problems with healthcare, very few agree on solutions. 17Compared to past years, however, about two-thirds of Americans believe government involvement could help. Some Americans want a fully public system for health insurance. Others want a mix of public and private health care. 18Retired nurse Pennie Wright, of Camden, Tennessee was among those questioned by AP-NORC. She does not like the idea of a government-run health care system. 19She moved to that system, known as Medicare, this year. She said she was surprised by how much she had to pay for her yearly doctor's visit. The amount included $200 for usual testing. Most of those costs had been covered by her former private health care plan. 20"I feel like we have the best health care system in the world, we have a choice of where we want to go," Wright said. 21Others would still like to see the government do more. For example, they would like to see the government help to pay the costs of helping people who need long-term care. 22They would also like the government to make a plan that would reduce the cost of medicine for everyone. 23That small change would help, says New Yorker Obeng-Dankwa. Maybe he would not have to choose between paying for his home and paying for his blood-pressure medicine. 24"Medication costs should be low, ... so that everyone can afford it," he said. He added: "those who are poor should be able to get all the necessary healthcare they need..." 25I'm Dan Friedell. 26Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 27_____________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29skip -v. to not do something that is expected 30prefer -v. to like something better than something else 31nursing home -n. a place where sick people or those who cannot take care of themselves go to live and be taken care of 32disparity -n. a noticeable difference between two things 33frustrating -adj. feeling angry or unsatisfied with something 34afford -v. to be able to pay for something 35We want to hear from you. Do you think the U.S. will be able to fix its healthcare system? 36We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 37Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.