Transcript Washington Poll: Health Care Reform Issues Analysis

The Washington Poll:
Health Care Reform
Issues Analysis
Sara Vaezy, MHA MPHc & Lauren Carr, MPHc
University of Washington
School of Public Health
Department of Health Services
March 8, 2010
Washington Poll
• Poll was conducted October 14-26, 2009 on a randomly
selected sample of registered Washington voters (n=724 ±
3.6 percentage points)
• Questions were asked regarding upcoming election
(November 2009)
• Health care reform were questions included in order to gauge
public opinion on health care issues
What are voters’ top issues?
• What general issues are most important to you as you decide how you will
vote (top issue) ?
– Health care reform was the second most important issue to poll respondents (18%),
second to Jobs & the Economy (21%). All other responses constituted less than 15%
each.
Top Issue of Importance
21%
18%
14%
14%
12%
10%
7%
2%
Jobs &
Economy
Health Care Don't Know
Reform
Taxes
2%
Gay Rights / Education Environment War in Iraq
Ref 71
All Others
Health Care Reform & Political Identity
• Of those who chose health care as their top issue, the graph below shows
the distribution of their political identities:
Political Identity
48%
27%
21%
3%
Democrat
Republican
Independent
Other
Overall distribution: 38% Dem; 30% Indep; 26% Repub; 5% None
Health Care Reform & Geography
• Of those who chose health care as their top issue, the graph below shows
their areas of residence throughout the state:
Geography
49%
29%
22%
Puget Sound
Eastern Washington
Other
Overall distribution: 52% Puget; 23% Eastern; 25% Other Western WA
Health Care Reform & Ideology
• Of those who chose health care as their top issue, the graph below shows
their ideological breakdowns:
Ideology
40%
25%
20%
15%
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Don't Know/Refuse
Health Care Coverage & Taxes
• Of all poll respondents, 52% said they were willing to pay additional taxes
to ensure that all American citizens have adequate and reliable health
insurance.
Willing to Pay Additional Taxes
52%
42%
5%
Agree
Disagree
Neutral
1%
Don't Know/Refuse
Health Care Reform Preferences
• All poll respondents were asked to think about
the current federal health care debate and
consider several popular provisions.
• They were asked: Please tell me whether you
think it is very important, somewhat
important, not very important, or not at all
important for Congress to include this
provision in any reform of health care.
• These are their responses:
Provision 1: Health Insurance
Portability
• Of all poll respondents, 92% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions ensuring people don’t lose their health insurance when they
switch jobs.
Provision 1: Health Insurance Portability
92%
Very or somewhat
important
4%
4%
Not very or not at all
important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 2: Pre-existing Condition
Exclusions
• Of all poll respondents, 93% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions ensuring no one is denied health insurance coverage because of
a pre‐existing illness or condition like heart disease or diabetes.
Provision 2: Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion
93%
Very or somewhat
important
5%
2%
Not very or not at all
important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 3: Public Option
• Of all poll respondents, 75% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions to provide a public insurance option open to anyone who
wishes to choose it.
Provision 3: Public Option
75%
21%
4%
Very or somewhat
important
Not very or not at all
important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 4: Minimum Level of
Coverage
• Of all poll respondents, 63% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions to require all Americans to have some minimum level of health
insurance coverage
Provision 4: Minimum Level of Coverage
63%
31%
6%
Very or somewhat
important
Not very or not at all
important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 5: Prevent Illegal Immigrants
from Getting Public Insurance
• Of all poll respondents, 68% believe it is important for Congress include
provisions to prevent illegal immigrants from getting health care paid for
by tax dollars
Provision 5: Prevent Illegal Immigrants from
Getting Public Health Insurance
68%
27%
5%
Very or somewhat
important
Not very or not at all
important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 6: Cost Containment
• Of poll all respondents, 92% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions to control the rising cost of medical care
Provision 6: Cost Containment
92%
7%
Very or somewhat
important
Not very or not at all
important
1%
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 7: Elderly Drug Coverage
• Of all poll respondents, 88% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions to ensure that the elderly have complete drug coverage
through Medicare (i.e. eliminate the “donut-hole”)
Provision 7: Elderly Drug Coverage
88%
8%
Very or somewhat
important
Not very or not at all
important
4%
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 8: Medical Malpractice
Reform
• Of all poll respondents, 88% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions to reform the medical malpractice system
Provision 8: Medical Malpractice
Reform
88%
Very or somewhat
important
7%
5%
Not very or not at all
important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 9: Medical Effectiveness
Research
• Of all poll respondents, 88% believe it is important for Congress to include
provisions to fund research on the effectiveness of medical treatments
Provision 9: Medical Effectiveness Research
84%
13%
3%
Very or somewhat
important
Not very or not at all
important
Don't Know/Refuse