In an aging America, a recent survey shows growing distrust for health care.
The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation recently surveyed 2,009 people and found that 72% do not think the U.S. health care system does a good job supporting older adults.
Only 31% of participants said they trust the health care system, and a mere 18% said they think the health care system values people’s well-being more than money.
“The lack of trust in our health care system seems to be a real concern,” NPHI President Carole Fisher told Hospice News. “Because what people are not trusting seems to be the profiteering aspects, making money off of their illnesses at the time when they’re feeling most vulnerable.”
The data showed that only 14% of participants believe the U.S. is prepared to deal with the aging population. Although 81% of participants have never had a conversation with a provider about end-of-life care, 89% said they’re comfortable talking about death.
Only 14% of participants believe the U.S. is prepared to deal with the aging population.
“People want to have those conversations, yet perhaps physicians that are not trained in hospice and palliative medicine don’t know how to have a conversation,” Fisher said.
Most participants (75%) want Medicare to cover end-of-life discussions.
“The health care system – particularly in the serious illness and end-of-life space – is under immense strain,” NPHI wrote in the survey. “Workforce shortages, high costs and a growing population of elderly Americans demand a large-scale, strategic transformation of how health care supports individuals and families as they age.”
The survey results showed that 70% of participants trust nurses, while only 17% trust government agencies.
“Most Americans avoid planning, discussing and even thinking about their personal wishes related to health care later in life, yet they agree that such conversations are important,” NPHI wrote in the survey. “There is a general lack of clarity around personal plans, care options and the system’s ability to provide care to the aging population.”
Data showed that trust in health care varied by race, generation and insurance status. White respondents who have medical insurance reported higher levels of trust than black, Hispanic, Asian or people of other races who do not have insurance.
Baby Boomers also reported more trust in health care than younger participants.
Baby Boomers also reported more trust in health care than younger participants.
“It was striking that the younger generations are distrusting and don’t feel like we’re ready,” Debbie McCarron, director of special projects at NPHI, told Hospice News. “They’re probably going to be the ones making some of these decisions for the aging generation in the upcoming years.”
According to NPHI, although some populations showed more trust than others, Americans in general have little trust in the health care system to meet their needs
“A key factor inhibiting more proactive discussions is lack of trust—the study found that, overall, Americans have little trust in the U.S. health care system to provide quality, respectful care at both the individual and systemic level,” NPHI wrote.
NPHI said this survey – completed in collaboration with Emergence Creative, SIR and StateServ – is the first phase of a larger collection of data to be released in spring 2023.