Worries about the viability of Social Security and the availability and affordability of healthcare are among the top 15 concerns that Americans have on key issues, according to a new Gallup survey.
The results are part of an annual survey undertaken by the polling and analytics company, and indicate that economic issues in general, from inflation to the federal budget to unemployment, are among the issues most worrying Americans.
Concerns about Social Security are on the rise, according to the Gallup survey, with 40% pointing to it as a top worry last year and now 45% saying the same today.
Exactly 49% of respondents in 2022 pointed to healthcare costs and availability as a major issue, compared with 54% today. While concerns about federal spending and the budget deficit, perhaps spirited by headlines pointing to a deficit of more than $1.1 trillion, have increased from 48% to 52%.
The biggest jump was seen in response to concerns about drug use, with a somewhat low 38% saying they were worried about this issue in 2022, compared with 46% today.
Percentage-wise, the largest source of worry for Americans is the presence of inflation, an issue picked by 59% of respondents last year and 61% today.
In a narrative accompanying the survey results, the Gallup organization noted that “inflation and the economy have been the top two issues in both 2022 and 2023, as the rate of price increases in the U.S. reached levels not seen in four decades.”
On Social Security, the 45% of respondents see the issue as one of great concern is the highest recorded since 2017, but still below the 53% who felt similarly during the Great Recession year of 2010.
Respondents self-identifying as Republicans expressed more concern about Social Security at 51% than Democrats at 41%. Says the narrative: “Democrats were more worried about Social Security when Donald Trump was president between 2017 and 2020 (averaging 52%), while Republicans (36%), were far less so, but that has flipped during the Biden years.”
By Garry Boulard
