AARPBuletinSurveyon HealthCareCoverage. ExecutiveSummary

AARPBuletinSurveyon HealthCareCoverage ExecutiveSummary March2008

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP neither endorses candidates for public office nor makes political contributions. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is our affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. AARP collected the data for this project through a telephone survey administered by International Communications Research (ICR). This report was written by Gerard Rainville, Senior Research Advisor, AARP Strategic Issues Research. For additional information contact Gerard Rainville at GRainville@aarp.org.

The AARP Bulletin recently commissioned a nationwide survey on health care coverage and the importance of health care issues to adults. Additional questions were asked about the respondents attitudes toward health care providers. The survey findings suggest that a clear majority of adults have health care coverage and that health care issues are important in deciding how to vote in the 2008 Presidential election. Two-thirds of respondents support a shared approach whereby the federal government, businesses, employers, and individuals together pay for providing health care coverage for everyone. Finally, respondents had high favorability ratings for direct practitioners in the health care profession (i.e. pharmacists, doctors and hospitals) but lower favorability for the business/administrative side of the industry (i.e. HMOs, Drug companies and Health insurance companies). Survey findings include: Sixty three percent of respondents have health care coverage through an employer. This includes sixty two percent of those aged 18 to 49 and sixty four percent of those over 50. (see table 1). Forty one percent of those interviewed had health care coverage through an individually-purchased plan. A significant difference was noted between age groups in that fewer of those between 18 and 49 had individually-purchased health care coverage than did those 50 and older (36% versus 48%, respectively). (see table 1). Eighty seven percent of those interviewed said health care will be an important issue in determining who to vote for in the 2008 Presidential election. (see table 2). Sixty seven percent of respondents supported a shared approach whereby the federal government, businesses, employers, and individuals together pay for providing health care coverage for everyone. (see table 3). Fifty percent of respondents felt the nation s health care system had some good things in it but required fundamental changes to improve it. Thirty one percent felt the health care system needs to be completely rebuilt. (see table 4). Eighty one percent of those interviewed had favorable opinions of pharmacists and doctors. Seventy one percent had a favorable opinion of their local hospital with more of those 50+ (80%) than those between 18-49 (65%) expressing a favorable opinion. (see table 5). More respondents had unfavorable opinions of HMOs, Drug companies and Health Insurance companies than they did favorable opinions. Thirty five percent had favorable opinions of HMOs and forty three had unfavorable ones. Thirty eight percent had favorable opinions of drug companies and forty eight percent had unfavorable ones. For health insurance companies, favorable opinions were found among forty one percent of respondents, unfavorable opinions among forty seven percent. (see table 5).

Survey methodology The study was conducted for AARP via telephone by International Communications Research (ICR) using its national omnibus survey service. Interviews were conducted between September 26 September 30, 2007 through among a representative sample of 1,019 respondents age 18 and older. ICR weighted the data to provide nationally representative estimates of the U.S. adult population 18 years of age and older.

AARP 2008 Health Care Bulletin Survey Detailed Data Tables Table 1: The Nature of Respondents Health Care Coverage Age Group You have coverage through your (or your spouse s) employer spurchased insurance or retiree benefits You have coverage through Medicare You have coverage through Medicaid You have coverage through the Veterans Administration You have individuallypurchased coverage (your own or through your spouse s) Your health insurance is with a managed care plan (includes HMO and PPO). Asked only of subjects who did not answer Yes to any of the above items): You do not have healthcare coverage. 18-49 50+ Total Yes No know Yes No know Yes No know 61.7 36.5 1.8 64.1 35.2.2 62.6 36 1.2 15.2 84.5.3 47.0 52.1.5 28.1 71.3.4 11.9 87.1 1 10.2 88.1 1.2 11.2 87.5 1.1 4.1 92.6 3.1 9.9 88.6 1.2 6.5 91 2.4 35.5 63.1 1.3 48.2 50.8.5 40.7 58.2 1 54.6 40.9 4.5 53.8 40.2 5.6 54.3 40.6 4.9 57 41 2 70 20 0 59.2 37.5 1.7 Table 2: Health Care as an Election Issue In deciding who to vote for in the 2008 Presidential election, will the issue of health care be very important, somewhat important, not too important or not at all important? IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT Age Group NET Important Very Somewhat NET Unimportant Not Not at know too all 18-49 86.5% 56.8 29.7 13% 6.6 6.4.5 50+ 88.1% 62.3 25.8 10.4% 4.6 5.8 1.4 Total 87.1% 59 28.1 12 5.8 6.2.9

18-49 Table 3: Support for Shared Health Care Responsibility Do you support or oppose a shared approach whereby the federal government, businesses, employers, and individuals together pay for providing health care coverage for everyone? SUPPORT OPPOSE Age Group NET Support Strongly Somewhat NET Oppose Somewhat Strongly know 18-49 68.5% 36.3 32.2 23.9% 13.9 10.1 7.6 50+ 64.5% 42.0 22.5 23.4% 10.4 13.0 11.6 Total 66.8% 38.6 28.2 23.8% 12.5 11.3 9.2 Table 4: Assessment of the Nation s Health Care System Which of the following three statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of the health care system in this country? Age Group On the whole, the health care system works pretty well and only minor changes are necessary to make it work better There are some good things in our health system, but fundamental changes are needed to make it work better Our health system has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it know 18-49 17.7 50.8 30.9.7 50+ 16.7 47.7 31.5 3.6 Total 17.3 49.6 31.1 1.9 Table 5: Opinions about Health Care Professionals Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of (INSERT)? Age Group Favorable Unfavorable Neutral No opinion know a. Your local hospital 64.7 29.9 2.3 2.3.8 b. HMOs 36.5 43.9 6.8 6.1 6.8 c. Health Insurance companies 40.3 48.8 5 5.6.3 d. Pharmacists 77.9 13.9 4.1 4.1 0 e. Drug companies 41.4 45 5.1 6.3 2.3 f. Doctors 78.9 15.5 3.3 2.0.3 Favorable Unfavorable Neutral No opinion know a. Your local hospital 79.5 12.0 2.9 4.1 1.2 b. HMOs 33.8 40.3 5.1 12.6 8.0 c. Health Insurance companies 43.1 43.3 5.3 4.8 3.1 d. Pharmacists 85.5 7.0 4.3 2.4.7 e. Drug companies 33.4 53.3 6.1 4.6 2.2 f. Doctors 83.8 9.4 3.9 2.4.5 Favorable Unfavorable Neutral No opinion know a. Your local hospital 70.7 22.6 2.5 3.0 1.0 b. HMOs 35.4 42.5 6.1 8.7 7.3 c. Health Insurance companies 41.4 46.6 5.1 5.3 1.5 50+ Total

d. Pharmacists 81 11.1 4.2 3.4.3 e. Drug companies 38.1 48.3 5.5 5.6 2.3 f. Doctors 80.9 13.1 3.5 2.2.4

AARP 2008 Health Care Coverage Bulletin Survey Annotated Questionnaire HEALTH CARE AND ELECTIONS HC-1. Which of the following items reflect you personal healthcare coverage? Yes No know Refused a. You have coverage through your (or your spouse s) employer s- 63 36 1 * purchased insurance or retiree benefits b. You have coverage through Medicare 28 71 * * c. You have coverage through Medicaid 11 88 1 * d. You have coverage through the Veterans Administration 6 91 2 * e. You have individually-purchased coverage (your own or through 41 58 1 * your spouse s) f. Your health insurance is with a managed care plan (includes 54 41 5 * HMO and PPO). g. You do not have healthcare coverage *(base = t.r. who do not have specified healthcare coverage; n = 80) 60 38 1 2 HC-2. In deciding who to vote for in the 2008 Presidential election, will the issue of health care be very important, somewhat important, not too important or not at all important? IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT NET Very Somewhat NET Not too Not at all know Refused 87 59 28 12 6 6 1 * HC-3. Do you support or oppose a shared approach whereby the federal government, businesses, employers, and individuals together pay for providing health care coverage for everyone? (GET ANSWER THEN ASK: Is that strongly or somewhat?) SUPPORT OPPOSE NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly know Refused 67 39 28 24 12 11 9 *

HC-4. Which of the following three statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of the health care system in this country? On the whole, the health care system works pretty well and only minor changes are necessary to make it work better There are some good things in our health system, but fundamental changes are needed to make it work better Our health system has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it know Refused 17 50 31 2 * HC-5. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of (INSERT)? Favorable Unfavorable Neutral No opinion know Refused a. Your local hospital 71 23 3 3 1 * b. HMOs 35 42 6 9 7 * c. Health Insurance 41 47 5 5 1 * companies d. Pharmacists 81 11 4 3 * -- e. Drug companies 38 48 5 6 2 * f. Doctors 81 13 4 2 * --