Results of a new national survey from CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) released today found that over half (56 percent) of Americans say the U.S. health care system does not work well for them, while overwhelming majorities agree the system is in need of reform (73 percent) and is currently too politicized (69 percent). Learn more: https://cvs.co/StateofHealthcare

1. State of U.S. Healthcare Survey

2. Key Points
• Satisfaction with insurance is high, however many feel they have
limited choice in the market
• 83% of Americans who are insured say they are satisfied with
their plan, including 44% who say they are very satisfied
• Close to a third (31%) of insured Americans did not have a
choice in the health insurance plan that was offered to them
• Americans feel very negatively about the state of U.S. healthcare
• Healthcare in the U.S. does not work well for the majority
(56%) of Americans
• Healthcare is overwhelmingly seen as too expensive –
among those who say the U.S. healthcare system does not
work for them, 58% say it is because it is too expensive
• Despite general negativity about the current state of healthcare,
parents are optimistic that healthcare in the U.S. will improve in
the future for their children
• 52% say their children will have better healthcare than they
did, 65% say advances in healthcare will make their lives
safer, and 66% say advances will make their lives longer
• Concerns about affordability persist; 33% strongly disagree
healthcare will be more affordable for their children
• While more Americans believe healthcare in the U.S. has gotten
worse overall over the past five years, they also think their
personal healthcare situations have remain unchanged or have
improved
• 41% of Americans feel that healthcare in the U.S. has gotten
worse in the past five years and 23% say it has improved
• A plurality (39%) say the quality of healthcare they personally
receive has not changed, 28% say it has improved, and 23%
say it has gotten worse
• Insured Americans are twice as likely to see a doctor or have
surgery done as uninsured Americans, among whom nearly
half (45%) have not sought treatment by a doctor, had
surgery, or gone to the emergency room in the past 12
months
• Americans want change, but are skeptical that changes happen
with patients in mind
• 73% of Americans agree healthcare needs to be reformed
and a plurality (45%) feel there is too much regulation in the
way of innovation in healthcare
• Despite a demand for reform, Americans feel change benefits
health insurance and pharma (58%), not patients (11%)
2

3. Health Insurance Trends
3

4. 86% of Americans are covered by health insurance
4
Are you, yourself, now covered by any form of health insurance or health plan or do you not have health coverage at this
time? A health plan would include any private insurance plan through your employer or a plan that you purchased
yourself, or a government program like Medicare, Medicaid, or the military.
86%
14%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Covered by health insurance Not covered by health insurance

5. Younger (ages 18-34) and African American respondents are least likely to be insured
5
Are you, yourself, now covered by any form of health insurance or health plan or do you not have health coverage at this
time? A health plan would include any private insurance plan through your employer or a plan that you purchased
yourself, or a government program like Medicare, Medicaid, or the military.
86%
84%
89%
81%
83%
85%
89%
97%
82%
92%
96%
88%
84%
78%
85%
84%
88%
86%
92%
14%
16%
11%
19%
17%
15%
11%
3%
18%
8%
4%
12%
16%
22%
15%
16%
12%
14%
8%
Adults
Gender: Male
Gender: Female
Age: 18-29
Age: 30-44
Age: 45-54
Age: 55-64
Age: 65+
Income: Under 50k
Income: 50k-100k
Income: 100k+
Ethnicity: White
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Ethnicity: Afr. Am.
Ethnicity: Other
Community: Urban
Community: Suburban
Community: Rural
Has Chronic Health Condition
Covered by health insurance Not covered by health insurance

6. The vast majority (83%) of insured Americans are satisfied with their health insurance plans
6
How satisfied are you with your insurance plan?
44%
39%
9% 4% 3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Completely dissatisfied Don't know
*Showing among insured Americans (n=1901)

7. Older (ages 65+) insured respondents are almost unanimously satisfied with their plans (92%)
7
How satisfied are you with your insurance plan?
*Showing among insured Americans (n=1901)
44%
46%
43%
41%
41%
41%
42%
56%
47%
40%
44%
44%
51%
43%
51%
44%
44%
46%
47%
39%
36%
41%
37%
39%
41%
43%
36%
36%
44%
39%
40%
33%
35%
35%
40%
40%
37%
39%
9%
10%
8%
11%
12%
11%
8%
4%
9%
9%
11%
9%
12%
14%
4%
9%
10%
8%
9%
4%
3%
5%
4%
4%
5%
5%
3%
4%
4%
5%
4%
5%
4%
3%
4%
6%
4%
3%
4%
2%
7%
4%
2%
4%
3%
3%
4%
3%
7%
4%
3%
4%
Adults
Gender: Male
Gender: Female
Age: 18-29
Age: 30-44
Age: 45-54
Age: 55-64
Age: 65+
Income: Under 50k
Income: 50k-100k
Income: 100k+
Ethnicity: White
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Ethnicity: Afr. Am.
Ethnicity: Other
Community: Urban
Community: Suburban
Community: Rural
Has Chronic Health Condition
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Completely dissatisfied Don't know

8. Nearly a third (31%) of insured Americans did not have a choice in the health insurance plan that
was offered to them
8
Did you have a choice in the health insurance plan that was offered or available to you?
*Showing among insured Americans (n=1901)
61%
31%
8%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Yes No Don't know

9. Americans are most likely to get their health insurance through an employer
9
Which best describes from where you get your health insurance coverage?
*Showing among insured Americans (n=1901)
41%
24%
17%
10%
4% 3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Through an
employer or union
(either through your
own affiliation, your
spouse's or a
parent's)
Medicare for seniors
and people with
disabilities
Medicaid for
individuals with
limited resources
Through the Health
Insurance
Marketplace or
Exchange or through
an insurer directly
Military or veterans'
benefits
Don't know

10. The State of U.S. Healthcare
10

11. Americans are largely pessimistic and negative about the state of U.S. healthcare
11
When thinking about the state of healthcare in the United States, which of the following best describe(s) your emotion(s)?
58%
53%
52%
39%
28%
26%
42%
47%
48%
61%
72%
74%
Sad
Pessimistic
Angry
Optimistic
Happy
Proud
Yes No

12. Most Americans (56%) say the U.S. healthcare system only works somewhat well or not at all for them
12
Does the healthcare system in the United States work well for you (i.e., can you access the care you need at a cost you can
afford)?
37% 37%
19%
7%
0%
20%
40%
Yes Somewhat No Don't know

13. The majority of those for whom the system does not work agree that healthcare is too expensive (65%); a quarter find the
system too complicated to navigate and few say the quality of care they received is poor or difficult to access
13
If the healthcare system in the United States does not work (very) well for you, why is that? Please select all that apply
65%
25%
15%
14%
14%
14%
11%
4%
35%
75%
85%
86%
86%
86%
89%
96%
Healthcare is too expensive
The system is too complicated to navigate
I have trouble accessing insurance or
coverage that’s right for me
Healthcare is too difficult to access
The quality of care I’ve received is poor
Don't know / No opinion
I don’t feel respected by healthcare providers
Other (please specify)
Selected Not selected

14. The cost of healthcare is also seen as the most important reason the healthcare system does not
work for them
14
If the healthcare system in the United States does not work (very) well for you, what is the MOST important reason?
58%
9%
6%
6%
4%
4%
2%
11%
Healthcare is too expensive
The system is too complicated to navigate
The quality of care I've received is poor
I have trouble accessing insurance or coverage that's
right for me
Healthcare is too difficult to access
I don't feel respected by healthcare providers
Other (please specify)
Don’t know / No opinion

15. Affordability is also far-and-away seen as the most serious issue with the healthcare system in the
United States that also needs to be addressed most urgently
15
Which of the following do you consider to be the MOST SERIOUS ISSUES/ think needs to be addressed MOST URGENTLY with the
healthcare system in the United States that need to be addressed? Please select up to three choices
50%
47%
34%
16%
14%
14%
14%
12%
10%
9%
8%
3%
3%
1%
6%
47%
42%
29%
17%
13%
15%
12%
11%
10%
7%
8%
3%
2%
1%
7%
Affordability of healthcare
Affordability of insurance
Affordability of prescription drugs
Treatment of mental health issues
Accessibility of care
Access to insurance
Over-prescribing of drugs
Quality of care I receive from my doctor(s)
Access to a variety of insurance plans
Complexity
Treatment of addiction
Innovation
None of the above / no issues with healthcare in the United States
Other (please specify)
Don’t know / No opinion
Most serious issue Needs to be addressed most urgently

16. More Americans believe the healthcare system overall has gotten worse than improved in the past five years
16
Compared to five years ago, would you say that the healthcare system in the United States is...
8%
17%
23%
24%
17%
11%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Much better Somewhat better Neither better nor
worse
Somewhat worse Much worse Don't know / No
opinion

17. This is true across most demographic segments, with the exception of minority and younger
(18-29) audiences who are more likely to say that it has improved
17
Compared to five years ago, would you say that the healthcare system in the United States is...
8%
10%
6%
13%
12%
8%
3%
3%
10%
6%
7%
6%
19%
15%
15%
12%
7%
7%
10%
9%
6%
17%
17%
16%
18%
17%
13%
16%
18%
16%
17%
20%
15%
19%
23%
23%
17%
18%
14%
17%
17%
11%
23%
24%
23%
21%
24%
23%
23%
25%
24%
21%
24%
24%
19%
19%
21%
22%
24%
22%
21%
24%
18%
24%
21%
26%
16%
18%
26%
32%
31%
21%
26%
28%
26%
20%
18%
13%
21%
25%
24%
28%
25%
17%
17%
16%
19%
13%
17%
21%
19%
18%
16%
21%
16%
19%
11%
11%
12%
14%
17%
21%
17%
16%
25%
11%
11%
11%
20%
12%
9%
7%
6%
13%
9%
4%
10%
14%
14%
17%
14%
9%
11%
6%
9%
22%
Adults
Gender: Male
Gender: Female
Age: 18-29
Age: 30-44
Age: 45-54
Age: 55-64
Age: 65+
Income: Under 50k
Income: 50k-100k
Income: 100k+
Ethnicity: White
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Ethnicity: Afr. Am.
Ethnicity: Other
Community: Urban
Community: Suburban
Community: Rural
Has Chronic Health Condition
Has Health Insurance
No Health Insurance
Much better Somewhat better Neither better nor worse Somewhat worse Much worse Don't know / No opinion

18. A plurality say the healthcare they personally receive has not changed, and are more inclined to
think it has improved than gotten worse
18
And, compared to five years ago, would you say that the healthcare YOU directly receive now is...
11%
17%
39%
14%
9%
11%
0%
20%
40%
Much better Somewhat better Neither better nor
worse
Somewhat worse Much worse Don't know / No
opinion

19. A quarter (24%) of Americans who do not have health insurance say the healthcare they directly receive has
gotten much worse in the past five years
19
And, compared to five years ago, would you say that the healthcare YOU directly receive now is...
11%
12%
9%
14%
14%
8%
12%
6%
12%
8%
11%
10%
20%
15%
17%
14%
10%
10%
16%
12%
5%
17%
20%
14%
19%
18%
15%
11%
19%
18%
15%
15%
16%
21%
21%
20%
18%
16%
17%
18%
18%
11%
39%
32%
45%
25%
33%
40%
45%
55%
34%
44%
50%
42%
26%
28%
29%
34%
43%
36%
38%
41%
25%
14%
14%
14%
10%
14%
19%
17%
12%
13%
16%
15%
14%
13%
16%
11%
12%
14%
17%
15%
15%
10%
9%
10%
8%
11%
8%
13%
7%
4%
9%
8%
6%
9%
6%
5%
8%
7%
9%
9%
9%
6%
24%
11%
13%
9%
22%
12%
6%
7%
5%
13%
8%
4%
10%
14%
15%
15%
15%
8%
11%
3%
9%
25%
Adults
Gender: Male
Gender: Female
Age: 18-29
Age: 30-44
Age: 45-54
Age: 55-64
Age: 65+
Income: Under 50k
Income: 50k-100k
Income: 100k+
Ethnicity: White
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Ethnicity: Afr. Am.
Ethnicity: Other
Community: Urban
Community: Suburban
Community: Rural
Has Chronic Health Condition
Has Health Insurance
No Health Insurance
Much better Somewhat better Neither better nor worse Somewhat worse Much worse Don't know / No opinion

20. Insured Americans are two to three times more likely to have seen a doctor or had surgery in the past 12 months as
uninsured Americans, and nearly half (45%) of uninsured have not sought most forms of treatment in that same time
20
Have you done any of the following in the past 12 months? Please select all that apply.
66%
24%
36%
12%
20% 21%
12%
5%
20%
45%
2%
11%
34%
76%
64%
88%
80% 79%
88%
95%
80%
55%
98%
89%
Has
Health
Insurance
No Health
Insurance
Has
Health
Insurance
No Health
Insurance
Has
Health
Insurance
No Health
Insurance
Has
Health
Insurance
No Health
Insurance
Has
Health
Insurance
No Health
Insurance
Has
Health
Insurance
No Health
Insurance
Seen my primary
care physician
Seen a medical
specialist
Been treated at the
emergency room
Had surgery None of the above Don’t know / Don’t
remember
Selected Not selected

21. Parents are generally optimistic about the future of healthcare for their children, however cost and
affordability remain concerns
21
When thinking about the healthcare your child/children will receive in their lifetime, do you agree or disagree with the
following statements?
36%
27%
24%
22%
15%
13%
33%
39%
41%
30%
32%
18%
16%
19%
20%
25%
24%
26%
7%
7%
6%
14%
19%
33%
8%
8%
9%
10%
10%
11%
I worry about the quality of healthcare
they will be able to access in their
lifetime
Advances in healthcare will make their
lives longer
Advances in healthcare will make their
lives safer
They will receive better healthcare than I
had access to at their age
Major diseases, such as cancer, will be
cured in their lifetime
The cost of healthcare will be more
affordable for them that it is for me
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Strongly disagree Don't know / No opinion

22. Changes to the Healthcare System
22

23. Americans largely agree U.S. healthcare needs to be reformed and is too politicized, and disagree
that it is affordable, treats everyone fairly, or is the best in the world
23
Do the following apply or not apply when generally describing healthcare in the United States?
42%
43%
34%
34%
16%
14%
12%
11%
12%
12%
12%
31%
26%
34%
32%
37%
27%
27%
23%
21%
20%
19%
10%
11%
14%
14%
23%
24%
29%
30%
23%
27%
25%
6%
7%
8%
9%
14%
21%
20%
23%
31%
30%
35%
11%
13%
10%
12%
11%
15%
13%
12%
13%
11%
9%
Needs to be reformed
Is too politicized
Is confusing
Is broken
Is accessible
Is at the cutting edge of innovation
Is compassionate
Is easy to navigate
Is the best in the world
Treats everyone fairly
Is affordable
Applies completely Applies somewhat Does not apply much Does not apply at all Don't know / No opinion

24. They feel the healthcare industry benefits the most from changes to the system, not patients
24
When thinking about changes in healthcare over the past five years, who would you say has benefitted the MOST from
these changes?
34%
19%
11%
6%
6%
5%
2%
19%
Health Insurance Companies
Pharmaceutical Companies
Patients
Hospitals
Pharmacies
Doctors
Other
Don't know / No opinion
53%

25. When thinking about how decisions are made in the healthcare industry, only 1 in 10 say patients
are put ahead of the bottom line
25
In your view, when thinking about the healthcare industry in the United States, which of the following best describes how
decisions are made?
60%
54%
65%
43%
55%
67%
71%
66%
56%
64%
69%
63%
45%
50%
41%
53%
63%
60%
65%
61%
51%
10%
14%
7%
18%
14%
7%
5%
4%
11%
10%
8%
9%
18%
14%
18%
14%
9%
9%
9%
10%
11%
9%
10%
9%
12%
8%
7%
7%
12%
10%
8%
12%
9%
13%
12%
12%
10%
10%
8%
9%
10%
6%
21%
22%
19%
27%
22%
19%
16%
17%
24%
17%
11%
19%
24%
23%
28%
24%
17%
22%
17%
19%
32%
Adults
Gender: Male
Gender: Female
Age: 18-29
Age: 30-44
Age: 45-54
Age: 55-64
Age: 65+
Income: Under 50k
Income: 50k-100k
Income: 100k+
Ethnicity: White
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Ethnicity: Afr. Am.
Ethnicity: Other
Community: Urban
Community: Suburban
Community: Rural
Has Chronic Health Condition
Has Health Insurance
No Health Insurance
The healthcare industry puts the bottom line ahead of patients The healthcare industry puts patients ahead of the bottom line
The healthcare industry prioritizes patients and the bottom line equally Don't know / No opinion

26. Looking ahead, a plurality (45%) believe there are too many regulations preventing innovation in
healthcare
26
Which of the following statements comes closest to your views, even if you don’t fully agree with either?
45%
35%
20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Too many regulations are preventing
innovation in healthcare. It's more
important to develop innovative new
health care solutions than to make health
care predictable and stable.
The American health care system isn't
perfect, but it works. It's most important
that we keep the system predictable and
stable, health care is too important to
experiment with.
Don't know / No opinion

27. Older (ages 65+) respondents and African American respondents are most likely to find that it’s
most important to keep the system predictable and stable
27
Which of the following statements comes closest to your views, even if you don't fully agree with either?
45%
45%
45%
44%
47%
50%
44%
38%
41%
50%
49%
47%
41%
34%
40%
42%
46%
45%
42%
44%
47%
35%
35%
35%
32%
32%
32%
37%
44%
35%
34%
37%
33%
38%
43%
39%
35%
36%
32%
42%
37%
22%
20%
20%
21%
24%
21%
19%
19%
18%
24%
16%
14%
20%
20%
23%
22%
23%
18%
22%
16%
19%
31%
Adults
Gender: Male
Gender: Female
Age: 18-29
Age: 30-44
Age: 45-54
Age: 55-64
Age: 65+
Income: Under 50k
Income: 50k-100k
Income: 100k+
Ethnicity: White
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Ethnicity: Afr. Am.
Ethnicity: Other
Community: Urban
Community: Suburban
Community: Rural
Has Chronic Health Condition
Has Health Insurance
No Health Insurance
Too many regulations are preventing innovation in healthcare. It's more important to develop innovative new health care solutions than to make health care
predictable and stable.
The American health care system isn't perfect, but it works. It's most important that we keep the system predictable and stable, health care is too important to
experiment with.
Don't know / No opinion

28. On who should lead, the tech industry is seen as the most generally innovative
28
When thinking about new products and services that impact your day-to-day life, which industry do you believe is the
MOST innovative?
42%
7%
6%
6%
5%
5%
5%
4%
3%
17%
The tech industry (e.g., Google, Amazon, Apple,
Microsoft, etc.)
The professional medical industry (e.g., individual
doctors, hospitals, etc.)
The pharmaceutical industry (e.g., pharmaceutical and
biotech companies)
Academia/universities and research institutions
Government
The automotive industry
The manufacturing industry
The health insurance industry
Pharmacies
None of these

29. But the professional medical industry is seen as slightly more innovative in the healthcare space
specifically
29
When thinking about new products and services that impact your HEALTHCARE, which industries do you believe is the
MOST innovative?
19%
17%
16%
8%
6%
5%
4%
2%
22%
The professional medical industry (e.g., individual
doctors, hospitals, etc.)
The pharmaceutical industry (e.g., pharmaceutical and
biotech companies)
The tech industry (e.g., Google, Amazon, Apple,
Microsoft, etc.)
The health insurance industry
Government
Pharmacies
The manufacturing industry
The automotive industry
None of these

30. Methodology
30
This poll was conducted from October 19-23, 2017, among a national sample of 2,201
Adults. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a
target sample of Adults based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, and
region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage
points.