Kaiser Health Tracking Poll Mollyann Brodie, PhD Vice President, Public Opinion & Survey Research, Kaiser Family Foundation October 2009
CHART 1 Health Care Reform Is Now the Right Time? Which comes closer to describing your own views? Given the serious economic problems facing the country 100% 80% 60% 62% 62% 61% 59% 61% 56% 53% 57% 55% It is more important than ever to take on health care reform now 40% 37% 34% 34% 37% 35% 39% 42% 39% 41% We cannot afford to take on health care reform right now 20% 0% Oct08 Dec08 Feb09 Apr09 Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Note: Don t know/refused responses not shown. Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys
CHART 2 Impact on Country: Time Trend Do you think the country as a whole would be better off or worse off if the president and Congress passed health care reform, or don t you think it would make much difference? 70% 60% 59% 56% 57% 51% 53% 53% 50% 45% Better off 40% 34% 30% 20% 19% 21% 19% 23% 26% 28% Worse off 10% 12% 15% 16% 16% 14% 14% 12% Wouldn't make much difference 0% Feb09 Apr09 Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Note: Don t know/refused and It depends (vol.) responses not shown. Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys
CHART 3 Impact on Own Family: Time Trend Do you think you and your family would be better off or worse off if the president and Congress passed health care reform, or don t you think it would make much difference? 70% 60% 50% 40% 43% 43% 39% 39% 36% 42% 41% Better off 30% 20% 10% 38% 11% 36% 14% 36% 16% 32% 21% 31% 27% 28% 23% 28% 27% Wouldn't make much difference Worse off 0% Feb09 Apr09 Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Note: Don t know/refused and It depends (vol.) responses not shown. Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys
CHART 4 Partisans Disagree It is more important than ever to take on health care reform now We cannot afford to take on health care reform right now Don t know/refused 73% 25% 55% 41% 30% 65% 3% Democrats 4% Independents 5% Republicans Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 5 Partisans Disagree: Family Worse Off % who responded you and your family would be WORSE off if the president and Congress passed health care reform 70% 61% 60% 54% 50% 49% Republican 40% 30% 20% 10% 27% 22% 15% 11% 3% 3% 33% 18% 5% 39% 36% 22% 11% 11% 26% 29% 7% 7% Independent Democrat 0% Feb09 Apr09 Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys
CHART 6 Views on Key Policy Options Please tell me if you would favor or oppose each of the following to help pay for health care reform and provide coverage for more of the uninsured. Strongly favor Somewhat favor Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose 50% Federal government requiring health insurance companies to cover anyone who applies, even if they have a prior illness* 54% 26% 10% 7% Requiring all Americans to have health insurance, either from their employer or from another source, with financial help for those who can t afford it 40% 26% 13% 18% Creating a government-administered public health insurance option to compete with private health insurance plans 29% 27% 12% 26% Note: Don t know/refused responses not shown. * Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 11-18, 2009) Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 7 Individual Mandate Would you favor or oppose requiring all Americans to have health insurance, either from their employer or from another source, with financial help for those who can t afford it? Favor Oppose 66% 31% Supporters were asked: What if you heard that this could mean that some people would be required to buy health insurance that they find too expensive or did not want? Opponents were asked: What if you heard that without such a requirement, insurance companies would still be allowed to deny coverage to people who are sick? Still favor Oppose Favor Still oppose 21% 73% 71% 23% Note: Follow up question on left asked of those who initially favored. Graph below it based on total, where oppose includes those who initially opposed along with those who opposed after hearing the follow up. Follow up question on right asked of those who initially opposed. Graph below it based on total, where favor includes those who initially favored along with those who favored after hearing the follow up. Don t know/refused responses not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 8 Public Option Would you favor or oppose creating a government-administered public health insurance option to compete with private health insurance plans? Favor Oppose 57% 39% Supporters were asked: What if you heard that a public health insurance option could give the government an unfair advantage over private insurance companies? Opponents were asked: What if you heard that a public health insurance option was a fallback that would only kick in if not enough people had affordable health plans available through the private marketplace? Still favor Oppose Favor Still oppose 32% 60% 65% 28% Note: Follow up question on left asked of those who initially favored. Graph below it based on total, where oppose includes those who initially opposed along with those who opposed after hearing the follow up. Follow up question on right asked of those who initially opposed. Graph below it based on total, where favor includes those who initially favored along with those who favored after hearing the follow up. Don t know/refused responses not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 9 Covering Those with Prior Illnesses Do you favor or oppose the federal government requiring health insurance companies to cover anyone who applies, even if they have a prior illness? Favor Oppose 80% 17% Supporters were asked: What if you heard this requirement might mean that healthier people would end up paying somewhat more for their health insurance than they do now, while sicker people would pay somewhat less? Opponents were asked: What if you heard that some people with very expensive illnesses like cancer would have no way of getting insurance otherwise? Still favor Oppose Favor Still oppose 56% 36% 86% 9% Note: Follow up question on left asked of those who initially favored. Graph below it based on total, where oppose includes those who initially opposed along with those who opposed after hearing the follow up. Follow up question on right asked of those who initially opposed. Graph below it based on total, where favor includes those who initially favored along with those who favored after hearing the follow up. Don t know/refused responses not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 11-18, 2009)
CHART 10 Some Tax Options Please tell me if you would favor or oppose each of the following to help pay for health care reform and provide coverage for more of the uninsured. Strongly favor Somewhat favor Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose 50% Increasing income taxes for people from families making more that $350,000 a year and individuals making more than $280,000 40% 22% 10% 24% Having health insurance companies pay a tax for offering very expensive policies 31% 24% 13% 25% Having health insurance companies pay a fee based on how much business they have 25% 25% 18% 24% Note: Don t know/refused responses not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 11 Taxing Health Insurance Cos. Offering Expensive Policies Would you favor or oppose having health insurance companies pay a tax for offering very expensive policies? Favor Oppose 55% 39% Supporters were asked: What if you heard that this might result in these costs being passed on to the consumer? Opponents were asked: What if you heard that this will discourage expensive health insurance policies which could help lower health care costs for everyone? Still favor Oppose Favor Still oppose 21% 69% 68% 22% Note: Follow up question on left asked of those who initially favored. Graph below it based on total, where oppose includes those who initially opposed along with those who opposed after hearing the follow up. Follow up question on right asked of those who initially opposed. Graph below it based on total, where favor includes those who initially favored along with those who favored after hearing the follow up. Don t know/refused responses not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 12 Medicare and Paying for Health Reform? Currently, the government determines how much doctors and hospitals get paid to treat people on Medicare. Would you favor or oppose limiting future increases in these payments as a way to help pay for health care reform? Don t know/ Favor Oppose Refused TOTAL 45% 46% 9% Under 65 years old 47% 44% 9% 65 years and older 31% 59% 10% Note: Question asked of half-sample. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 13 When Will Key Provisions Start if Reform Passes? If Congress and the president did pass a health care reform bill, when would you expect? This year Next year 3 years from now 5 years from now Further in the future than that Never (vol.) that people without insurance would begin to get financial help in buying coverage 13% 36% 25% 7% 11% 1% that health insurance companies would have to begin accepting customers who have pre-existing health problems 17% 34% 23% 8% 9% 1% Note: Top item asked of half sample. Don t know/refused responses not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted October 8-15, 2009)
CHART 14 Decrease in Reported Viewing of Ads Percent who say during the past seven days, they have seen, heard or read any advertisements having to do with proposed changes in the health care system: 60% 54% AMONG THOSE WHO SAY THEY HAVE SEEN, HEARD, OR READ ANY HEALTH REFORM ADS: As far as you could tell, were those ads in favor of or opposed to passing some sort of health care reform this year? (Oct 2009) 50% 40% 31% 45% 45% 34% Both (vol.) 30% 20% 21% 32% In favor 32% Opposed 10% 0% Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 2% DK/Refused Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys
CHART 15 Remember - Real People Having Real Problems Over half say they or a member of their household have put off some sort of health care because of the cost in the past year One in three say they or a member of their household have had problems paying medical bills over the past year Almost six in ten say that they or someone in their household has a pre-existing medical condition These percentages are significantly higher among certain groups, such as the uninsured, those in poor health and those with lower incomes Source: Kaiser Family Foundation September Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 11-18, 2009)