Healthcare Dissatisfaction Rises Among Pennsylvania Residents, Survey Shows
Nearly half of Pennsylvania residents now rate the state’s healthcare as fair or poor, with cost barriers preventing many from accessing needed care.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — A new statewide survey reveals growing dissatisfaction with healthcare quality among Pennsylvania residents, with nearly half rating the commonwealth’s healthcare system as fair or poor.
The Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion and Muhlenberg College Public Health program found that 45% of respondents described Pennsylvania’s healthcare as fair or poor, while 50% rated it good or excellent. The findings mark the highest level of dissatisfaction since the question was first included in the annual poll in 2019.
Researchers surveyed 500 adult Pennsylvania residents between March 10 and March 17, weighting responses by gender, age, race and educational attainment to reflect the state’s 2026 population.
Cost Barriers Limit Healthcare Access
More than one in four respondents, just over 25%, reported that they or someone in their household struggled to access healthcare in the past year due to cost constraints.
When asked to identify the greatest threat to public health in Pennsylvania, 21% of respondents cited access or cost issues. An equal percentage, 21%, answered “not sure” to the question.
The second most common response, cited by 9% of those surveyed, was President Donald Trump, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or Republicans.
Infrastructure and Policy Concerns
Eight percent of respondents identified infrastructure problems or limited access to hospitals and doctors as the primary public health threat. Another 7% pointed to politics or recent policy shifts as their main concern.
The survey documented several notable shifts in public opinion compared to previous years, though researchers noted the changes represent the most significant movement in healthcare satisfaction ratings since the polling began tracking this metric seven years ago.
The findings come as Pennsylvania continues to grapple with healthcare access challenges, particularly in rural areas where hospital closures and physician shortages have created gaps in coverage for residents across the commonwealth.
