Claudia Deane Associate Director Public Opinion and Media Research Kaiser Family Foundation February 2008

1. Figure 1 Claudia DeaneAssociate DirectorPublic Opinion and Media ResearchKaiser Family Foundation February 2008 Public Opinion: Health Care and Election’08

2. Figure 2 Tutorial Overview • Public opinion about health care in the U.S. • Trends and current priorities for the 2008 election. • The role of health care in the election.

3. Figure 3 Majorities of Insured Satisfied with Own Situation Among those with health care coverage, percent who… Note: Data for this question was not collected in 1994Sources: ABC News Poll (Jul. 1994, Nov. 1995, Aug. 1997), ABC News/Washington Post Poll (Oct. 2003), ABC News/Kaiser Family Foundation/USA Today Poll (Sept. 2006)

4. Figure 4 Insecure About Costs, Losing Coverage Percent saying they are VERY worried about the following… 41% Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Poll Report

5. Figure 5 Problems Paying Medical Bills In the past 12 months, did you or another family member in your household have any problems paying medical bills, or not? Health insurance status among the 25% who reported problems paying medical bills… Uninsured Yes No 25% 75% Insured Source: ABC News/Kaiser Family Foundation/USA Today Health in America Survey (conducted September 7-12, 2006)

6. Figure 6 Looking Back: Health Care as a Voting Issue National Exit Polls 2004 2006 Moral values Corruption/ethics Economy/Jobs Economy Terrorism Terrorism Iraq Traditional values Health care Iraq Taxes Illegal immigration Saddam Hussein verdict Education Source: 2004 Presidential & 2006 Congressional election exit polls by Edison/Mitofsky for the National Election Pool

7. Figure 7 Is Health Care Breaking Through as a Political Issue? Thinking about the campaign for the presidential election in 2008, what two issues would you most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about? (open-ended) 2008 Iraq Health care Economy Immigration Taxes Gas prices/Energy Note: Adds up to more than 100% due to multiple responses. Source: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 (conducted November 28-December 9, 2007)

8. Figure 8 Is Health Care Breaking Through as a Political Issue? Thinking about the campaign for the presidential election in 2008, what two issues would you most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about? (open-ended, top 4 responses shown) Note: Adds up to more than 100% due to multiple responses. Source: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008

9. Figure 9 Interest in Health Care by Party Identification Thinking about the campaign for the presidential election in 2008, what two issues would you most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about? (open-ended) Republicans Democrats Independents Iraq Health care Economy Immigration Taxes Gas prices/Energy Note: Adds up to more than 100% due to multiple responses. Source: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 (conducted November 28-December 9, 2007)

10. Figure 10 Interest in Cost vs. Coverage Which ONE of the following health care issues would you most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about? Reducing the costs of health care and health insurance Expanding health insurance coverage for the uninsured Total Improving the quality of careand reducing medical errors Republicans Democrats Independents Reducing spending on government programs like Medicare and Medicaid Source: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 (conducted November 28-December 9, 2007)

11. Figure 11 Preferences for Health Care Reform Proposals Thinking ahead to the presidential election in 2008, which ONE of the following three things would you like to see in a health care reform proposal from a candidate? Major expansion – Higher Cost A new health plan that would make a major effort to provide insurance for nearly all of the uninsured and would involve a substantial increase in spending Limited expansion – Lower Cost A new health plan that is more limited and would cover only some uninsured groups, but would involve less spending Status Quo A health plan that would keep things basically as they are Note: “Don’t know/refused” responses not shown Source: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 (conducted November 28-December 9, 2007)

12. Figure 12 Though Public May Support Coverage Goal… Do you favor or oppose the federal government doing more to help provide health insurance for more Americans? Favor Oppose 85% 14% 1% Don’t know/ Refused Source: KFF/HSPH The Public’s Health Care Agenda for the New Congress and Presidential Campaign (conducted November 9-19, 2006)

13. Figure 13 No Agreement on Best Solution When forced to choose… Percent who say “MOST preferred option” Percent who FAVOR Tax credits for businesses Expanding state government programs such as Medicaid Expanding Medicare to people under age 65 Tax credits for uninsured individuals Requiring businesses to offer insurance to employees National single-payer plan Source: Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard Health Care Agenda for the New Congress Survey November, 2004

14. Figure 14 The Uninsured and Voting Percent saying they voted in 2000 presidential election Percent saying they voted in 2002 congressional election Percent saying they are registered to vote Total Uninsured under age 65 Insured under age 65 Ages 65 and over Source:Kaiser Family Foundation Health Poll Report (combined surveys from Dec. 2003 and February 2004)

15. Figure 15 Issues Are Only One Part of What Determines Votes Overall, which of the following will be MOST important when you decide who to vote for? Perceptions of the candidates’ leadership abilities, character, values, and experience The candidates’ stands on the issues 45% 46% 10% Don’t know/ Refused Source: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 (conducted November 28-December 9, 2007)

16. Figure 16 www.kff.org/kaiserpolls www.health08.org www.kaiseredu.org/tutorials_index.asp#PublicOpinion1 www.newsu.org/polling www.aapor.org www.ncpp.org www.washingtonpost.com/polls www.abcnews.go.com/pollingunit www.pewresearch.org www.pollster.com Places to Turn for More Information