A growing number of Americans are worried that two of the country’s most important safety-net programs may not be around much longer.

Roughly 40 percent of U.S. adults — about 110 million people — have said they doubt Medicare or Social Security will still exist in 10 years, according to a major new survey by West Health–Gallup Center on Healthcare. It draws on answers from nearly 20,000 adults across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., who were surveyed between June 9 and August 25 this year.

Why It Matters

Social Security was launched during the hardships of the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on August 14, 1935, creating a federal support system funded through payroll taxes. The goal was simple: help older Americans avoid poverty and provide f

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