But most still rate coverage and quality of their care highly

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Slightly fewer Americans rate their healthcare coverage as either excellent or good, at a combined 67%, down from 72% last year. Despite the decline, 40% still rate their coverage as good and 27% as excellent.

As is typical, Americans are much more positive about their own healthcare coverage than about healthcare coverage in the U.S. in general. The same Nov. 15-18 Health and Healthcare survey found 41% rate healthcare coverage in the U.S. as excellent or good and a combined 58% say coverage is only fair or poor.

Americans Remain Happy With Healthcare Quality

Most Americans (82%) continue to rate the quality of the healthcare they receive as excellent or good. The 40% who rate their care as excellent ties for the highest since Gallup started asking the question annually in 2001.

Again, Americans are more positive about the quality of care they personally receive than about the quality of healthcare in the U.S. in general. About six in 10 Americans rate U.S. healthcare quality as excellent or good.

Income Makes a Difference in Ratings of Healthcare Coverage, Quality

Higher-income Americans are much more likely than lower-income adults to rate the quality of their healthcare and their healthcare coverage as excellent or good. However, even a majority of the lowest income Americans rate both highly.

Medicare and Medicaid recipients and those with private health insurance are about equally likely to give their healthcare coverage and quality good ratings.

Bottom Line

While much of the national discussion about healthcare focuses on the negative -- rising costs, inefficiencies, getting more Americans covered, etc. -- Americans are generally satisfied with their own healthcare coverage and quality of care. Whether the small decline in Americans' satisfaction with their healthcare coverage is related to changes associated with the new healthcare law is unclear at this time.