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Internet Poll through May 14, 2006 (10,512 responses)
1. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement about health insurance coverage and public policy in the United States. By public policy, we mean a public goal set out in federal or state law.
It should be public policy (that is, a public goal set out in federal or state law) that all Americans have affordable health care insurance or other coverage.
[80.1%] Strongly Agree
[11.5%] Agree
[ 1.7%] Neutral
[ 2.1%] Disagree
[ 3.7%] Strongly Disagree
[ 0.1%] Not Applicable
[ 0.8%] No Response
2. Which one of the following do you think is the MOST important reason to have health insurance?
[34.1%] To pay for everyday medical expenses.
[61.2%] To protect against high medical costs.
[ 3.9%] No opinion.
[ 0.9%] No response
3. Health insurance coverage can be organized in different ways. Which statement best describes your views on how health care coverage should be organized?
[11.0%] Provide coverage for particular groups of people (for example, employees, people who are elderly or cannot work because of disability, or people with very low incomes) as the case is now.
[85.3%] Provide coverage for everyone, for a defined level of benefits (either by expanding the current system or by creating a new system).
[2.6%] No opinion.
[1.1%] No response
4. Some health insurance models are designed to provide "basic" or "essential" services. When you think about the different kinds of health care that people use, which of the following services do you believe need to be included in BASIC insurance coverage for you and your family?
Check all that apply.
[93.6%] Annual Physicals & Preventive Care
[36.0%] Chiropractic Care
[71.8%] Community-based Care Services (for people with disabilities)
[36.7%] Complementary and Alternative Medicine (such as acupuncture)
[81.6%] Dental Care
[87.8%] Doctor's Office Visits
[ 5.8%] Elective Surgery (such as plastic surgery)
[90.3%] Emergency Room Visits
[66.7%] Family Planning
[64.2%] Hearing Aids
[71.6%] Home Health Care
[78.6%] Hospice and Other Palliative Care (pain management)
[92.8%] Hospital Stays (including surgery)
[90.4%] Imaging Tests (MRI, CAT, X-ray)
[93.0%] Lab Tests
[75.0%] Medical Equipment (such as wheelchairs, prosthetics)
[82.1%] Mental Health Care
[66.4%] Nursing Home Care
[87.0%] Outpatient Surgery
[77.3%] Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy
[91.6%] Prescription Drugs
[62.8%] Substance Abuse Treatment
[79.4%] Vision/Eye Care
5. Who should decide what services are covered in “basic” health insurance?
[27.8%] Consumers
[ 0.5%] Employers
[ 3.7%] Government
[ 0.6%] Insurance Companies
[ 4.5%] Medical Providers
[60.9%] Some combination of the above
[ 1.5%] Not sure
[ 0.5%] No response
6a. People may have different views about what is most important to them and their families when it comes to getting health care. Which of the following would be MOST important to you and your family if you have an opportunity to choose health care coverage?
[ 4.0%] Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of my medical history and treatment information
[ 2.8%] Not having to deal with paperwork and bills
[23.8%] Keeping down the cost of my insurance premiums
[22.5%] Keeping down out-of-pocket costs for visits, drugs, or other supplies
[ 1.1%] Convenience and waiting times for appointments and services
[12.7%] Being able to get information about the quality of health care services I need in order to make informed decisions about care for my family and me
[ 5.5%] Being able to get information about the costs of health care services I need in order to make informed decisions about care for my family and me
[ 4.9%] Having health care providers who are respectful and communicate well
[ 1.0%] Being able to choose which hospital to go to
[17.1%] Being able to choose my own personal physician
[ 3.9%] Being able to choose my own medical specialist
[ 0.7%] No response
6b. Which would be the NEXT MOST important?
[ 4.6%] Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of my medical history and treatment information
[ 4.6%] Not having to deal with paperwork and bills
[18.5%] Keeping down the cost of my insurance premiums
[21.7%] Keeping down out-of-pocket costs for visits, drugs, or other supplies
[ 2.3%] Convenience and waiting times for appointments and services
[ 9.6%] Being able to get information about the quality of health care services I need in order to make informed decisions about care for my family and me
[ 7.3%] Being able to get information about the costs of health care services I need in order to make informed decisions about care for my family and me
[ 6.0%] Having health care providers who are respectful and communicate well
[ 4.2%] Being able to choose which hospital to go to
[14.9%] Being able to choose my own personal physician
[ 5.1%] Being able to choose my own medical specialist
[ 1.2%] No response
7. One way or another, we all pay for the increasing costs of health care through increased insurance premiums, taxes, or consumer prices. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about paying for health care?
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
NA/NR |
|
| a. We should all be responsible for setting aside enough money to pay for most of our health care expenses. | 7.3% |
13.6% |
14.3% |
29.8% |
32.6% |
2.5% |
| b. We should all pay for part of our health care costs so we will be more careful about how we use health care services | 19.1% |
36.1% |
12.3% |
17.0% |
13.6% |
1.9% |
| c. People with health problems, who use more health services, should have to pay higher insurance premiums. | 5.4% |
10.7% |
12.1% |
34.6% |
35.2% |
2.1% |
| d. People with higher incomes should pay higher premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance. | 15.9% |
22.4% |
16.8% |
26.3% |
15.9% |
2.7% |
| e. People with higher incomes should pay more for health insurance they buy for themselves from insurance companies. | 15.3% |
19.7% |
17.7% |
27.4% |
17.0% |
2.9% |
| f. Everyone should pay the same amount for health insurance. |
20.1% |
17.9% |
13.6% |
27.7% |
18.0% |
2.7% |
8. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about controlling the rising costs of health care in America?
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
NA/NR |
|
| a. Health plans/insurers should use financial incentives (such as higher payments) to hospitals and doctors that provide efficient, high-quality care. | 14.9% |
41.2% |
17.3% |
15.3% |
8.2% |
3.0% |
| b. Health plans/insurers should not pay for high-cost technologies or treatments that have not been proven to be safe and medically effective. | 14.5% |
35.7% |
24.1% |
17.2% |
6.0% |
2.5% |
| c. Health plans/insurers should not pay for high-cost technologies or treatments even if they have been proven to be safe and medically effective if less expensive yet equally safe and medically effective technologies or treatments are available. | 14.0% |
37.1% |
14.2% |
20.7% |
11.7% |
2.4% |
| d. Health plans/insurers should use financial incentives (such as adjusting premiums and copayments) to encourage consumers to use more efficient and high-quality providers. |
14.1% |
41.2% |
18.0% |
15.7% |
8.1% |
2.9% |
| e. Governments should set limits on prices for health care products, such as prescription drugs or medical devices. | 40.1% | 31.9% | 8.8% | 9.3% | 7.9% | 2.1% |
| f. Governments should make it harder to qualify for enrollment in their programs that provide health coverage or health care services. | 3.3% | 4.7% | 9.0% | 30.4% | 48.3% | 4.3% |
| g. Governments should improve the administration and efficiency of their health care programs. | 56.9% | 29.2% | 7.2% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.7% |
| h. The private sector should increase efforts to improve the efficiency of health care providers that are paid through private insurance. | 36.1% | 37.5% | 15.0% | 4.8% | 2.9% | 3.8% |
| i. Doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers should invest more in computerized information systems to monitor and improve health care quality, reduce errors, and improve administrative efficiencies. | 34.5% | 37.5% | 20.0% | 3.9% | 1.6% | 2.6% |
9. How much MORE would you be willing to pay (taxes, premiums, copayments, or deductibles) in a year to support efforts that would result in every American having access to affordable, high quality health care coverage and services?
[12.2%] $0
[16.6%] $1-$99
[21.4%] $100-$299
[17.6%] $300-$999
[12.1%] $1,000 or more
[19.1%] Don’t know
[ 1.0%] No response
10. Considering the rising cost of health care, which of the following should
be the MOST important priorities for public spending on health and health care
in America?
Choose up to 3.
[24.1%] Guaranteeing that there are enough health care providers, especially in inner cities and rural areas
[49.3%] Investing in public health programs to prevent disease, promote healthy lifestyles, and protect the public during epidemics or disasters
[65.5%] Guaranteeing that all Americans have health insurance
[11.6%] Funding the development of computerized health information to improve the quality and efficiency of health care
[16.3%] Funding medical education to ensure that we have enough high-quality medical
professionals and health care workers
[10.9%] Funding programs that help eliminate problems in access to or quality of care for
minorities
[10.6%] Funding biomedical and technological research
[69.6%] Guaranteeing that all Americans get health care when they need it, through some form of private or public program, including “safety net” programs for those who cannot afford care otherwise.
11. Many people believe that fixing our health care system will require trade-offs by everyone (such as consumer, employers, government agencies, insurers, and providers). By tradeoffs,we mean reducing or eliminating something to get more of something else. How much do you agree or disagree with the following possible trade-offs?
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
NA/NR |
|
| a. Accepting a significant waiting time for non-critical care to get a 10% reduction in health care costs. | 9.6% |
35.5% |
15.9% |
24.2% |
10.0% |
4.8% |
| b. Paying a higher deductible in your insurance for more choice of doctors and hospitals. | 6.6% |
29.2% |
15.7% |
29.7% |
13.8% |
5.0% |
| c. Paying more in taxes to have basic health insurance coverage for all | 27.7% |
37.7% |
9.4% |
10.4% |
11.1% |
3.7% |
| d. Expanding federal programs to cover more people, but provide fewer services to persons currently covered by those programs. | 3.3% | 13.4% | 16.3% | 39.4% | 22.7% | 4.9% |
| e. Limiting coverage for certain end-of-life care services of questionable value in order to provide more at-home and comfort care for the dying. | 24.4% | 36.1% | 16.3% | 10.7% | 8.0% | 4.5% |
12. There are different ways to assure coverage for all Americans. Remembering that we all pay for the cost of health care through insurance premiums, taxes, or consumer prices, how much do you agree or disagree with the following options?
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
NA/NR |
|
| a. Offer uninsured Americans income tax deductions, credits, or other financial assistance to help them purchase private health insurance on their own. | 12.8% |
28.8% |
13.2% |
24.4% |
17.5% |
3.3% |
| b. Expand state government programs for low-income people, such as Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, to provide coverage for more people without health insurance. | 24.9% | 44.2% | 11.5% | 10.2% | 6.5% | 2.7% |
| c. Rely on free market competition among doctors, hospitals, other health care providers and insurance companies, rather than having government define benefits and set prices. | 10.6% | 12.1% | 13.4% | 25.4% | 35.6% | 2.9% |
| d. Open up enrollment in national federal programs like Medicare or the federal employees’ health benefit program. | 25.4% | 40.5% | 18.0% | 7.3% | 6.0% | 2.7% |
| e. Require businesses to offer health insurance to their employees. | 24.5% | 31.3% | 17.5% | 13.7% | 10.1% | 3.0% |
| f. Expand neighborhood health clinics. | 28.5% | 45.9% | 17.4% | 3.2% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| g. Create a national health plan, financed by taxpayers, in which all Americans would get their health insurance. | 50.0% | 22.2% | 9.2% | 6.3% | 10.4% | 1.9% |
| h. Require that all Americans enroll in basic health care coverage, either private or public. | 19.4% | 27.0% | 21.3% | 16.6% | 12.3% | 3.5% |
| i. Increase flexibility given states in how they use federal funds (such as Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program) to maximize coverage. | 16.1% | 38.9% | 23.1% | 11.7% | 7.1% | 3.1% |
| j. Expand current tax incentives available to employers and their employees to encourage them to offer insurance to more workers and their families. | 27.2% | 41.5% | 12.9% | 8.8% | 6.4% | 3.2% |
We have a few final questions just to help us better understand who our respondents are.
13. Are you male or female?
[38.2%] male
[59.5%] female
[ 2.3%] Decline to answer/No response
14. How old are you?
[ 3.0%] Under 25
[26.6%] 25 to 44
[55.5%] 45 to 64
[12.8%] 65 and over
[ 2.2%] Decline to answer/No response
15. Are you Hispanic or Latino?
[ 2.7%] Yes
[90.2%] No
[ 7.2%] Decline to answer/No response
16. Which of these groups best represents your race? (Check all that apply).
[84.2%] White
[ 1.9%] Black or African American
[ 0.9%] Asian
[ 0.1%] Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
[ 0.5%] American Indian or Alaska Native
[ 2.0%] Other
[ 1.8%] 2 or more of the above
[ 8.6%] Decline to answer/no response
17. What is the highest grade or year of school you completed?
[ 0.1%] Elementary (grades 1 to 8) or less
[ 0.3%] Some high school
[ 5.7%] High school graduate or GED
[17.7%] Some college
[ 7.7%] Associate Degree
[30.0%] Bachelor's Degree
[36.4%] Graduate degree
[ 2.2%] Decline to answer/no response
18. Do you have any kind of health care coverage, including health insurance, prepaid plans such as HMOs, or government plans such as Medicare or Medicaid?
[91.0%] Yes
[ 7.9%] No
[ 1.1%] Not sure/no response
19. Have you attended any community meetings on the American health care system?
[22.4%] Yes
[76.4%] No
[ 1.2%] No response
20. Have you participated in any web casts on the American health care system?
[10.4%] Yes
[88.3%] No
[ 1.3%] no response
21. Have you read The Health Report to the American People and other material available on our web site?
[20.6%] Yes
[78.2%] No
[ 1.3%] no response
ZIP/Postal Code (required): ___________