Aug. 17, 2006
Survey: Most Want Health Care Overhaul
Three-Fourths Say U.S. Health System Needs Fundamental Changes
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(AP)
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The results show Americans are growing increasingly concerned about the affordability of health care and want better coordination and improved access to information and care.
"Rather than thinking more care is better care, patients are quite perceptive about wasteful care," says researcher Cathy Schoen, senior vice president of The Commonwealth Fund, in a news release.
The telephone survey was conducted in June by Harris Interactive for the Commonwealth Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health System. The survey had a national sample of 1,023 adults.
One in four adults said their physician had recommended unnecessary care or treatment, and one in six reported their doctor repeated tests already done.
Overall, the survey showed 42 percent of Americans reported an instance of receiving inefficient, poorly coordinated, or unsafe health care in the past two years.
Problems included having a test ordered that had been done already, having unnecessary care or treatment recommended, not having important medical information shared with another doctor or nurse, or experiencing a medical, surgical, medication, or lab error.
Nearly two of five adults reported serious problems paying for their own or their family’s health care, and a similar number reported problems paying for insurance. About one in five said these affordability problems were "very serious."
Affordability Concerns
The results also show health care affordability concerns are moving up the income ladder.
Support For Better Health Care Coordination
More than three-quarters of those surveyed said the U.S. health care system is in need of fundamental change or complete rebuilding.
There was also strong support for efforts to improve the coordination and efficiency of health care and medical information, with more than nine in 10 believing it is important to have one place or doctor responsible for providing and coordinating all their medical care.
The results also showed:
SOURCES: Schoen, C. “Public Views on Shaping the Future of the U.S. Health Care System,” Aug. 17, 2006. News release, The Commonwealth Fund.
By Jennifer Warner
Reviewed by Louise Chang, M.D.
© 2006, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
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- The company I worked for just sent my job to India; this way the company does not have to pay for health insurance for my replacement. Now I'm unemployed with NO health insurance. The delivery of health care in this country is terrible. It too often depends on the kindness and wealth of the company you work for.
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- My family makes just a tad over $35,000. I can not afford to have medical care except for injuries. My husband is a veteran, that is the only way we are able to afford his meds for his health problems. If preventive care was cheaper I would be able to have mammagrams, paps and other tests. My mom had cancer and my dad died with cancer.
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- Isn't it time for nationalized health care? You know, like every other industrialized country in the world?
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