Gallup and West Health polling finds growing public anxiety about the future of Medicare and Social Security: 58% of adults say they are more worried about Medicare than a year ago and 61% feel the same about Social Security. About four in 10 adults say each program may be unavailable within the next decade, though Republicans are relatively more confident than Democrats and independents. The findings arrive amid intense policy debate and a recent federal spending bill that included Medicaid cuts and tax changes that analysts say could accelerate Social Security's fiscal strains.
Majority of Americans More Worried About Medicare and Social Security, Poll Finds
A chart showing the share of Americans who are more concerned about benefits than a year ago, by party.
Americans are growing increasingly anxious about whether Medicare and Social Security will remain available in the years ahead, as uncertainty about how those programs will be financed mounts.
Polling conducted by Gallup and West Health shows that roughly six in 10 adults now feel more worried than they did a year ago about possible changes to these benefits: 58% report increased concern about Medicare and 61% about Social Security. About a third of Republicans say they share that rising worry.
What the Poll Found
Key takeaways from the survey include:
- Approximately four in 10 U.S. adults say each program is unlikely to be available within the next decade.
- Republicans tend to be more confident than Democrats and independents that the programs will continue.
- Concerns cross party lines: while Republicans are more optimistic overall, significant portions of all major political groups express worry.
Political And Policy Context
The survey comes amid a heated debate inside the Republican Party over how to handle federal benefit programs. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a large spending bill that included billions in health-care cuts, largely aimed at Medicaid, and tax changes benefiting some Social Security recipients. Analysts warn those tax changes and spending shifts could hasten the long-term insolvency risks facing Social Security.
Why it matters: Medicare and Social Security are central to health and retirement security for millions of Americans. Rising public concern can influence policy debates, voter priorities, and legislative proposals as lawmakers consider ways to shore up funding and preserve benefits.
