The cost of health care, not the COVID-19 pandemic, is now the top health care concern facing residents of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts residents reported that only inflation and the cost of housing were greater challenges than the cost of health care, according to a new survey commissioned by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (“Blue Cross”). The survey, conducted by Beacon Research, also found that the cost of care resulted in skipped or delayed health care for nearly half of Massachusetts residents.

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Prepared by Beacon Research • 6 Beacon Street, Suite 510 • Boston, MA 02108 • 617.939.0125 • www.BeaconResearch.com
MA Statewide Poll
September 2022

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About the Survey
Mode
Data was collected online and on the phone. The telephone portion was conducted by trained
professional interviewers from a central, monitored location; respondents were interviewed on
cell phones and landlines
Sample 1,004 Massachusetts residents
Dates June 14-23, 2022
Weights
Slight weights were applied to ensure the sample accurately reflects the demographic profile of
the Massachusetts population
Note
Some data may not add up to 100% due to rounding and totals may be one point more or less
than the sum of their parts.

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Profile of the Sample
Category Group
% of
Sample
Sex
Male 48
Female 52
Age
18-29 15
30-44 25
45-54 17
55-64 20
65+ 22
Education
Noncollege 50
College graduate 50
Household
income
Below $30,000 18
$30-60,000 25
$60-100,000 29
Over $100,000 23
Category Group
% of
Sample
Region
South 20
North 11
West 24
Suburbs 34
Boston 11
Ethnicity
White 81
Latino, Hispanic 6
Black 7
Asian 4
Party ID
Democrat 34
Independent 50
Republican 12

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Key Finding #1
Rising costs are a major problem for Massachusetts
residents. Healthcare costs are part of that equation,
though the costs residents experience more often (gas and
groceries) are even more notable.

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Inflation is the most concerning issue for MA residents, with housing and
healthcare costs in a second tier.
4-10. How concerned are you about each of the following issues facing Massachusetts?
Inflation and the rising cost of living
The cost of housing
The cost of healthcare
Jobs and the economy
The quality of public education
Racism and racial equity
Coronavirus
57%
41%
30%
25%
22%
17%
12%
26%
30%
37%
28%
25%
24%
20%
83%
71%
67%
53%
47%
41%
32%
Extremely Very Total concerned

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Gas/grocery costs are the biggest strain on family finances; healthcare costs an
issue for 6-in-10.
11-16. Costs have been on the rise recently. How much of a problem has each of the following been for your family’s finances—
has it been a major problem, minor problem, or not a problem at all?
59%
68%
29%
33%
26%
26%
29%
18%
34%
29%
31%
31%
88%
86%
63%
62%
57%
57%
Major problem Minor problem Total
The cost of groceries
Gasoline costs
The cost of health co-pays or and bills when
you receive healthcare
Your monthly rent or mortgage costs
The cost of prescription drugs
Your monthly health insurance premium

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Key Finding #2
Cost remains the paramount healthcare issue—
particularly for middle-age and middle-class residents.

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Cost is the most important healthcare issue, by far.
43. Which ONE of the following do you think is the most important healthcare issue facing Massachusetts today?
Most Important Issue, by Subgroup
Cost Access Quality
Overall 62% 19% 17%
Age
Under 45 54 23 21
45-54 67 16 14
55-64 76 10 12
65+ 57 22 17
Household
Income
Under $30k 52 23 23
$30-60k 62 18 18
$60-100k 72 15 13
$100k+ 60 23 14
Cost of care
Access to care
Quality of care
62%
19%
17%
Most Important Healthcare Issue

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Most are satisfied with healthcare quality and their own health plan.
45. Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of the healthcare available to you and your family?
110. How satisfied are you with your current health plan?
Healthcare quality satisfaction
Health plan satisfaction
19%
23%
32%
33%
36%
28%
87%
84%
Completely Very Somewhat Total satisfied

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Most think healthcare is very or somewhat easy to access.
46. Would you describe your ability to access healthcare when you need it as:
Very easy
Somewhat easy
Not very easy
Not easy at all
35%
50%
11%
4%
Total easy 85%
Total not easy 15%

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Four-in-ten put off needed care because of cost, one-quarter do the same for
prescription medicines.
48. How often do you put off seeing a doctor or getting a healthcare procedure or test because of the cost? AND
49. How often do you put off filling or refilling a prescription because of the cost?
12%
7%
30%
19%
42%
26%
Regularly Occasionally Total Often
How often do you put off healthcare
because of the cost?
How often do you put off filling a prescription
because of the cost?

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Key Finding #3
Residents believe addressing healthcare costs is
important—and think health plans, hospitals, and
government all have significant roles to play.

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Half think taking action on costs is extremely important.
66. How important is it for Massachusetts to take serious action right away to address the rising cost of health insurance premiums and out of pocket costs for healthcare?
(1-10 scale)
Extremely Important
(10 on a 10-point scale)
High Importance (8-9)
Medium Importance (6-7)
Low Importance (1-5)
Note: Remainder Not sure / Refused
46%
34%
10%
8%
Importance of taking action on costs

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Most think health plans, hospitals, and government could all do a lot to address
costs.
79-85. Many people and organizations could play a role in addressing rising healthcare costs. How much do you think each of the following could do to slow the rise in
healthcare costs, if they made the issue a priority—could they do a great deal, a good amount, not much, or nothing at all?
58%
62%
52%
38%
25%
28%
14%
28%
23%
33%
43%
42%
37%
23%
86%
85%
85%
81%
67%
65%
37%
Could do a great deal A good amount Total
Health plans
Federal government
State government
Hospitals
Doctors
Businesses
Individuals and families

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Chris Anderson
6 Beacon Street, Suite 510
Boston, MA 02108
617.742.3766
Chris@BeaconResearch.com