According to a new poll from West Health and Gallup, nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe a candidate’s proposal to reduce healthcare costs will influence their vote, and nearly 40%, or 100 million Americans, say it might make them cross party lines in the midterm elections.

In a nationally representative survey of over 5,500 Americans, independents (50%) and Democrats (40%) were about twice as likely as Republicans (22%) to claim they would choose a candidate from a different party if cutting healthcare costs was the top priority.

Across races, Black Americans (65%) and Hispanic Americans (60%) are more willing to do the same than White Americans (34%).

Healthcare will be a major factor in the upcoming election, according to 96% of Democrats, 85% of Independents, and 77% of Republicans. Black (65%) and Hispanic Americans are significantly more likely to believe this than White Americans (41%) are.

Timothy A. Lash, President of West Health, stated that the survey “shows healthcare affordability remains on the ballot and that it could have a big influence on November’s midterm elections.” 

Candidates with a strategy to cut healthcare and prescription medication costs and who grasp the issue’s importance could be rewarded.

In addition, 86% of voters say that a candidate’s promise to specifically lower the cost of prescription pharmaceuticals is very or very significant in determining their vote; this is especially true among Black and Hispanic voters and the elderly.

In comparison to 40% of White Americans, 65% of Black Americans and 56% of Hispanic Americans think the issue is “very important” to their vote.

According to the same survey, when it comes to affordability, three-quarters of Americans (74%) or 190 million individuals give the American healthcare system a low or failing score.

An estimated 70 million individuals (27%) say that if they required high-quality healthcare today, they would not be able to afford it.

Nearly one in five persons say that because they couldn’t afford the essential care, a health problem they or a family member had worsened.

About 129 million individuals, or half the population, express doubt about their ability to pay for healthcare as they get older.

The findings reveal “that combating high healthcare and prescription drug costs is particularly motivating to voting blocs that can tip elections,” added Dan Witters, Research Director for the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index.

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