Washington Voters and Health Care Issues

1. Washington Voters and Health Care Issues February 2007

2. SurveyMethodology • Sample • 500 interviews among a representative sample of voters in Washington State • Method • Telephone interviews conducted February 19-20, 2007 • Sampling error • Plus or minus 4% at the 95% confidence level

3. Most Important Issue “In your opinion, which one of the following issues is the most important problem facing people in Washington State today?”

4. Most Important Issue:Key Subgroups-1 -----------Region------------

5. Most Important Issue:Key Subgroups-2 ------Income----- ------Party-----

6. Most Important Health Care Issue For State Government “What, in your opinion, are the top two or three most important health care issues for the Washington State government to be working on?”

7. Most Voters are Covered by Health Insurance “Are you and your family currently covered by health insurance?”

8. Voter Insurance Coverage: Historic Trends

9. Voters are Widely Satisfied With Their Health Insurance Coverage “Generally speaking, are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your current health insurance coverage?”

10. Voter Health Insurance Satisfaction:Historic Trends

11. Many Believe Most Washingtonians Do Not Have Adequate Health Insurance “Do you believe most people in Washington State have adequate health insurance coverage, or not?”

12. Incentives are Preferred Over Government Guaranteed Health Insurance “Which of the following statements most closely reflects your opinion about state government’s role in health care? State government should guarantee health insurance for all citizens, and, if necessary, pay the cost of that health insurance. OR State government should provide incentives for businesses and individuals to pay for their own health insurance.”

13. A Market-Driven Plan is Preferred Over Universal Health Care “In your opinion, which of the following is the best way to address the health care needs of people in Washington State? A universal health care plan managed and paid for by state government, covering everyone. OR A market-driven plan, in which everyone can choose the coverage they want, mandates are reduced and tax incentives are given to businesses that provide health insurance.”

14. Basic “No Frills” Health Plan is Popular “Current state law requires that every health insurance policy sold here must include coverage for many medical services, including massage therapy and chiropractic care. Should insurance companies be allowed to offer a basic, less expensive plan to individuals and small businesses that would not include coverage for things like massage therapy and chiropractic care, or not?”

15. Tax Increase for Health Care for People Who Can’t Afford it? “Would you favor or oppose having government provide health insurance for everyone who can’t afford it if it meant an increase in your personal taxes?”

16. Health Care for the Uninsured “Which of the following statements comes closer to your view?” The uninsured should get health care that is as good as the care insured people get, even if it means raising taxes Don’t know/neither 11% 32% The uninsured should get a basic level of health care, which might not be as good as the care insured people get, but wouldn’t require raising taxes 56%

17. The Uninsured Should Get Basic Level of Health Care:Key Subgroups

18. Legislative Health Care Proposals-1 “Here are some health care proposals being considered by the state legislature.  Please tell me if you favor or oppose each.”

19. Legislative Health Care Proposals-2

20. Majority Oppose Single Payer Health Plan “Would you favor or oppose a state health plan, financed by taxpayers, in which all Washington residents would get their insurance from a single government plan?”

21. Single Payer Health Plan:Key Subgroups

22. Longer Waits Reduce Support for Single Payer Health Plan IF FAVOR: “Under a single government plan, you would wait longer for some hospital and specialty care. Would you still favor this type of plan or would you now oppose it? ”

23. Saving Money Increases Support for Single Payer Health Care Plans IF OPPOSE: “Under a single government plan, the state could save money and provide health insurance for everyone in the state. Would you still oppose this type of plan or would you now favor it?”

24. Personal Health Care Worries “Thinking about the next six months, how worried are you that each of the following might happen to you – very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not at all worried?”

25. Health Care Costs Not a Problem for Most Voters “On another topic, in the past 12 months, was there a time when you did not get medical care you needed due to cost?” “In the past 12 months, was there a time when you had a serious problem paying medical bills?”

26. Summary and Highlights-1Overview • Health care is one of the leading concerns of Washington voters today, particularly among Democrats and low-income voters • When it comes to health care issues, voters want state government to address the cost issue first • The majority of voters prefer to have the health care system managed by the private sector instead of state government

27. Summary and Highlights-2Personal Experience and Perceptions • The vast majority of voters (94%) are covered by health insurance and most of those covered are satisfied with their coverage (87%) • At the same time; • 57% of voters are not worried about the increasing cost of health care. • 72% are not worried that they won’t be able to afford necessary health care.  • 87% said there has never been a time in the last 12 months they couldn’t get health care they needed due to cost. • 89% said there has never been a time in the past 12 months they had a serious problem paying medical bills. • However, 70% of voters do not believe most people in the state have adequate health insurance coverage.  This tends to increase concerns about the coverage for low-income people and makes universal health care more appealing.

28. Summary and Highlights-3Who Should be Responsible for Health Care? • State government incentives for businesses and individuals to pay for their own health care are preferred, 54-37%, over state government guaranteed health insurance for all • In addition, a market-driven health care plan is favored, 58-33% over a universal health care plan managed and paid for by state government • And while, 55% say they favor a tax increase to provide health insurance for everyone who can’t afford it, by a 56-32% margin, voters prefer providing the uninsured a basic level of health care which might not be as good as the care insured people get in order to avoid a tax increase

29. Summary and Highlights-4Unpopular Health Care Proposals • There is substantial opposition to three proposals being discussed in the state legislature -Require that everyone have health insurance coverage much the same way drivers are required to have car insurance (38/55%) -Ban business associations from providing small group health insurance to their members (16/72%) -Require everyone to purchase health insurance from state government (15/79%) • Finally, a single payer health plan is widely opposed