What You Should Know:
– A new survey conducted by Dynata and commissioned by DUOS, a digital health company for Medicare beneficiaries, reveals a significant level of consumer concern about the future of healthcare in the U.S..
– The survey, which polled 1,000 consumers aged 18 and older in July 2025, found that Americans are worried about access, affordability, and benefit loss, especially with a new administration on the horizon.
Barriers to Access to Care
A major finding of the report is that a significant majority of Americans feel that economic circumstances, such as inflation, are negatively affecting their access to care. Three out of four respondents (73%) agreed that financial headwinds are eroding access to care, with that number being even higher among Gen Z (88%) and Millennials (80%).
Confidence and Awareness Gaps in Medicare
The survey found that Americans are not confident about the future of Medicare and Medicaid coverage under the Trump administration. Forty-two percent of respondents reported a lack of confidence, compared to only 22% who are “very confident”. This lack of confidence is more prevalent among women (16% very confident) compared to men (27% very confident).
When asked about the impact of a potential reduction or elimination of Medicare or Medicaid, 67% of Americans said it would affect their ability to afford necessary healthcare. A majority of Baby Boomers (51%) said this would significantly impact them as they rely on these services to pay for their healthcare.
The survey also revealed a significant lack of awareness about the supplemental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage. Sixty-nine percent of Americans have little to no awareness that Medicare Advantage can cover “non-traditional” services like transportation to medical appointments and groceries. This knowledge gap is particularly wide among Gen X (74%) and Gen Z (77%).
Major Concerns and the Need for Better Communication
The top concerns regarding healthcare under the Trump administration are rising healthcare costs (35%) and losing Medicare or Medicaid benefits (33%). While rising healthcare costs are the number one concern overall, losing Medicare/Medicaid benefits is the top concern for Baby Boomers (48%).
A majority of Americans (53%) also believe the government does not communicate well about available healthcare resources such as Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP. This lack of communication is felt most acutely by Baby Boomers (37% of whom say communication is poor), though younger generations seem to have more awareness.
When asked what would make them feel more secure about their ability to access healthcare services, 61% of respondents cited lower healthcare costs as the biggest factor. This was followed by better communication about available benefits (42%) and expanded coverage (40%).
The financial hardship is already a reality for many Americans. Forty-three percent of respondents reported having to choose between a healthcare expense (like medication) and a life expense (like groceries or utilities) due to economic hardship, with another 31% fearing it may happen soon. This is felt most by younger generations, as 26% of Millennials said they frequently have to make this choice, compared to 13% of Baby Boomers.
A Generational Divide on AI Adoption
The survey also found a generational divide in comfort levels with health insurers using AI to match members with benefits. Overall, 42% of respondents are at least somewhat comfortable with the idea, but Millennials are far more open, with 54% expressing comfort. In contrast, 41% of Baby Boomers are uncomfortable with AI-assisted tools for benefit matching.
Survey Background/Methodology
The study of 1,000 consumers in the U.S., 18+ in age, conducted and commissioned in July 2025 by Dynata, looks at consumer confidence in the administration’s impact on health equity, access to care, and awareness of available healthcare resources amid economic hardships, including inflation-driven challenges.
