Nearly 2/3 of Americans show concerns about accessing healthcare: Poll

Approximately 2/3 of Americans are worried about accessing healthcare, according to the Harris Poll. Yahoo Finance's Adriana Belmonte shares the details.

Video Transcript

JULIE HYMAN: The latest Yahoo Finance Harris Poll found that two out of three Americans are concerned about access to health care since the start of coronavirus. Perhaps not surprising, as health is first and foremost in many of our minds amidst this pandemic. Adriana Belmonte has the details on this poll. And again, not necessarily surprising, when health has been so front and center for many people.

ADRIANA BELMONTE: Yes, so we conducted this poll through the past few days. And we found that about a quarter or one third of Americans are really concerned, a lot more concerned about their health care since the start of the pandemic. Another third are just a little bit more concerned. And then some aren't as much. So that's a good majority who have at least expressed some concerns about access to health care affordability over the past few months. And I think just adding to this is the uncertainty of the election.

ADAM SHAPIRO: Out of curiosity though, for years, Americans been concerned about health care. So does the poll give us any new insight to that which we didn't already know?

ADRIANA BELMONTE: I think a lot of it has to do with, there's been so many job losses. That's come about because of this pandemic. And as a result, people have lost employer-sponsored health care. And so, some have had to rely on the Affordable Care Act, the Obamacare special enrollment period, to get health care coverage. Some have turned to Medicaid. And some are still uninsured. So you add in these economic problems, and that's just adding more fuel to the fire.

JULIE HYMAN: You have to wonder as well, Adriana, since you said the poll's conducted over the past few days, that this takes into account people's concern about the ACA ruling at the Supreme Court, and whether there will be a new appointee to the court. That case is set to be heard right after the election. So, I wonder if that's part of the equation in all this too.

ADRIANA BELMONTE: So disclaimer, this was conducted right before Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing. So, but there still is the fact that we did know that the Supreme Court was going to be hearing the arguments starting right after the election. So that still plays a major role in it. And there's also the fact that President Trump has continuously said that he has a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, and yet he still hasn't unveiled it. So I think people are wondering, if this is overturned, then what happens to them? Do they lose their health care coverage? What is the backup that comes into play?

- Adriana, what are they thinking then, when it comes to who they would elect? If people are concerned about what they would-- what would happen if they didn't have access to health care with coronavirus. Are they looking then towards the election as kind of a means to address that, or what's kind of the line of thinking there?

ADRIANA BELMONTE: Yes, so also today came out this new Commonwealth Fund survey, which honed in more on the specific candidates. And they found that voters see Biden as more likely to address their health care concerns and needs, but Trump not as much. And it's also has to do with, you know, COVID-related health care issues. Again, they see Biden more as the person to do it, but if people are worried that Trump is going to be reelected, then they might have a lot more concern about their health insurance.

JULIE HYMAN: All right, thanks, Adriana, appreciate it. We'll be keeping a watch on some of these numbers, and we'll have more results from Harris in the coming week.