Each year since 2019, the California Healthcare Foundation has funded a statewide, representative survey of residents' opinions and experiences on a variety of healthcare topics. NORC at the University of Chicago conducted the study again in late 2023. Key themes and findings from this year's survey include:
What are Californians saying about the quality of mental health care? Dissatisfaction with mental health care is high among Californians, especially among those who have experienced the system firsthand. Specifically, 2 in 3 Californians think improvements are needed in the treatment of people with severe mental illness (SMI), and 42% see “substantial” improvement. The answer is that it is necessary. Of those who said they or someone close to them needed treatment for their SMI, 63% said it required “significant” improvement (see figure 45 in the report).
How are health care costs impacting Californians? Californians, especially those with low incomes, continue to be burdened with high medical costs and medical debt. More than one in three Californians (38%) and more than half (52%) of low-income Californians report having medical debt (see figure 25 in the report) ). (The survey asks a variety of affordability questions, including whether respondents have skipped treatment because of cost and whether they are worried about unexpected medical bills.)
What do Californians think are important health care priorities for state government? Reducing health care costs and improving access to mental health care are top priorities for Californians, with 80% of all Californians saying both priorities are “very” or “extremely” important. (See Figure 5 in the report).
Do Californians think the state has made progress toward racial equity in health care? The data revealed a variety of perspectives. Specifically, 43% of all Californians believe the state has made “a lot” or “some” progress in achieving racial equity in health care. A similar share of Californians of all races and incomes believe there has been “a lot” or “some” progress. However, Black (44%) and Latino/x (33%) Californians are more likely than White Californians (20%) to think the state is making “very little” or “no progress.” (see Figure 18).
Explore Californians' opinions and experiences on other health topics, including extreme weather and health, artificial intelligence in health care, waiting for approval for doctor-recommended treatments, and more.
About the author
Additional authors from NORC at the University of Chicago include Larry Bai, senior research fellow; Vicky Pineau, Chief Statistician. and statistician Lin Liu.
