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