Practically two thirds of Americans—including more than three-in-five Republicans—call for a national, publicly funded system.
Vancouver, BC [November 5, 2026] – More than a third of Americans brand the country’s healthcare system as inadequate, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 59% of Americans (-12 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in April 2021) say America’s healthcare system currently meets their needs and the needs of their family, while 35% (+11) believe it does not.
Just under two thirds of Americans (65%, -10) are “very confident” or “moderately confident” that America’s healthcare system would be there to provide the help and assistance that they would need if they had to face an unexpected medical condition or disease.
Confidence in America’s healthcare system remains higher among men (69%, -12) than women (60%, -9).
African Americans are more likely to express confidence in the healthcare system (71%) than respondents who are Hispanic/Latino (62%) or White (61%).
Just over three-in-four Americans who watch Fox News (76%) think America’s healthcare system would be there to provide the help and assistance that they would need if they had to face an unexpected medical condition or disease. The proportions are lower among Americans who get their news from CNN (70%), MS NOW/CNBC (64%) or a local network (56%).
Almost two thirds of Americans (65%, +6) agree with the United States moving to establish a national, publicly funded healthcare system, similar to the ones that currently exist in Canada and some European countries.
Support for a publicly funded healthcare system in the United States is highest among Americans aged 18-to-34 (69%, +2), followed by those aged 35-to-54 (66%, +2) and those aged 55 and over (58%, +8).
On a regional basis, the notion of a publicly funded healthcare system is more popular in the Midwest (68%, +20), followed by the Northeast (64%, +7), the South (also 64%, +4) and the West (62%, -8).
“Almost three-in-four Democrats (73%, +1) agree with the United States establishing a healthcare systems that mirrors Canada’s,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Majorities of Republicans (64%, +19) and Independents (61%, +1) share the same view.
More than half of Americans (57%) believe the Affordable Care Act—sometimes referred to as Obamacare—should remain place, while just under three-in-ten (27%) would like to repeal it.
While only 44% of Republicans believe the Affordable Care Act should be maintained, the proportion rises to 54% among Independents and to 78% among Democrats.
Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from October 29 to October 31, 2026, among 1,001 adults in the United States. The data has been statistically weighted according to U.S. census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our data tables here and here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca