US healthcare reform gains support amid low life expectancy rankings

A new poll from health policy research firm KFF indicates that two-thirds of US adults now favor a universal health insurance system, often referred to as ‘Medicare for all’. This represents a significant increase from the 53% support recorded in 2020. While 84% of Democrats and 72% of independents support the measure, 66% of Republicans oppose it. Support for the single-payer model drops to 52% when respondents are informed that it would eliminate private insurance plans.

Healthcare expenses have emerged as a primary economic concern, with 60% of surveyed Americans expressing worry over affording medical costs. This sentiment coincides with new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding US health outcomes. The WHO ranks the United States 62nd in overall life expectancy and 40th in healthy life expectancy, despite the nation spending more than any other country on healthcare, at approximately $13,473 per person.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of securing physical and mental well-being alongside increased lifespan, noting that simply living longer without good health does not improve healthcare systems.