The Washington Poll: Health Care Reform
Issues AnalysisSara 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.
21%
18%
14%
12%
10%
7%
2% 2%
14%
Jobs & Economy
Health Care Reform
Don't Know Taxes Gay Rights / Ref 71
Education Environment War in Iraq All Others
Top Issue of Importance
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:
48%
21%27%
3%
Democrat Republican Independent Other
Political Identity
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:
49%
22%
29%
Puget Sound Eastern Washington Other
Geography
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:
40%
25%
20%
15%
Liberal Moderate Conservative Don't Know/Refuse
Ideology
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.
52%
42%
5%1%
Agree Disagree Neutral Don't Know/Refuse
Willing to Pay Additional Taxes
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.
92%
4% 4%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 1: Health Insurance Portability
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. ‐
93%
5% 2%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 2: Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion
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.
75%
21%
4%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 3: Public Option
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
63%
31%
6%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 4: Minimum Level of Coverage
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
68%
27%
5%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 5: Prevent Illegal Immigrants from Getting Public Health Insurance
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
92%
7%1%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 6: Cost Containment
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”)
88%
8% 4%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 7: Elderly Drug Coverage
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
88%
7% 5%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 8: Medical Malpractice Reform
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
84%
13%
3%
Very or somewhat important
Not very or not at all important
Don't Know/Refuse
Provision 9: Medical Effectiveness Research