Poll: Confidence in Health Care Dwindling

Drop Most Significant in Older Americans Eligible for Medicare

(AP)  Americans' confidence about their health care future and access to care is dropping, particularly among older people, as debate grows more contentious over President Barack Obama's health overhaul agenda.

A monthly survey of consumer sentiment on health care issues shows that Americans' confidence in insurance coverage, affordability and access dropped more than 5 points in July, after having risen slightly in June.

Among seniors eligible for Medicare the drop was even more striking - 10.4 points - suggesting the health care debate is raising alarm bells for older people. The survey was conducted even before coverage of raucous town hall meetings that highlighted public opposition to Mr. Obama's Democrats' health overhaul plans.

The United States is the only developed country without a universal health care program. Mr. Obama has made passing such a plan the centerpiece of his first year in office. about 50 million of the country's 300 million people lack health insurance.

The health care consumer confidence index is compiled by the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports health care reform. It uses people's responses to a series of questions - whether they worry about being unable to afford prescription drugs or being driven to bankruptcy by medical bills, for instance - to determine an overall confidence score.

The overall score for July was 97.2, down from 102.3 in June. The highest possible score is 200, the lowest zero.

More coverage of Health Care Reform

"Americans continue to struggle to afford health care, and I think they're still feeling pinched by the downturn of the economy, and there's also all the debate in Washington," said Lynn Blewett, director of a University of Minnesota state health data center, which analyzes the data for the foundation.

"I think people don't understand what's going on, and so I think there's a little more concern about what's going to happen to the health care system in the future," Blewett said.

The Robert Wood Johnson survey does not measure specifically whether people support or oppose Mr. Obama's health care agenda. Recent surveys have shown approval of Mr. Obama's handling of the issue slipping, with 45 percent of registered voters in a Marist Poll released Friday saying they disapprove of how the president is handling health care, while 43 percent approved.

The Robert Wood Johnson survey, however, shows palpable worries about the status quo. It bears out other polls, including Marist, that show the public believes the U.S. health system should be changed, even while they have misgivings about the direction Mr. Obama and his Democrats are taking.

In the Johnson poll, 52 percent of respondents said they were very or somewhat worried that they would not be able to afford future care, and nearly 30 percent said they were very or somewhat worried they would go bankrupt from medical bills. Lower-income people expressed greater disquiet.

There also was a certain amount of satisfaction expressed. Asked to rate the quality of health care they received, 26.1 percent said it was excellent, 34.5 percent said very good, 25.7 percent said good, 10.4 percent said fair and just 3.4 percent said poor.

The telephone poll of 500 people had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

[babooph]

The only"reform" the insurance industry will allow,is mandating more suckers pay them for being ripped off-their lobbyists have paid the bribes to the propagandists & politicians to ensure the scam.The last sick reform was letting HMO deny anything they want-IMMUNE FROM LAWSUITS-take the $$ & run-give the sucker ANY contract,then no need to pay !!

[dremn1]

I am sick and tired of this goverment. I pay federal income taxes, state income taxes, property taxes, FICA taxes, sales tax, gas taxes, phone bill taxes, cell bill taxes, utility bill taxes, license tab taxes and the list goes on and on.

Wake up America and stand up to Obama and Congress. Enough is enough!!

Now are tax bills are going to increase more to pay for the Banks, automotive industry, and goverment run health care.

Why dont we fix Social Security, Medicare and all the other goverment programs that are running into the ground before any new spending is authorized.

WAKE UP LIBERALS!!!

[ksgates99]

Obama is not being truthful! Yes Illegal immigrants can receive FREE HEALTH CARE from your tax dollars. Here is how. . . . Right now there is no verification that a person is a citizen of the United States. This verification process was voted down in congress!!! So the answer is YES, illegal immigrants will receive free health care!!!

[babooph]

I spend more & more time overseas-the lobbyists & the suckers in the States are in charge & the mess will likely get worse-every man for himself!!Too bad for those stuck on the sinking ship.

[IrishWench01]

What an amazing feat of intelligence it would be for everyone to actually read the proposed bill.

[Joe_NY_15]

by IrishWench01 August 18, 2009 11:15 PM EDT

Hello IrishWench, how you are doing well, and I admit I've missed you....What is your position on the gov. takeover of the healthcare industry ?

Are you prepared to give your bank account to the gov, so they can freely debit/credit as they see fit ? (in the proposal)

or do we ALL want our medical records in the hands of some bitter partisan goverment beaurocrats ?

These are just a few aspects that concern me....

anyway, a pleasure to see you here....even though it's tomorrow now

[shama1020]

I AM A 100% DISABLED VETERAN WHO IS 49 YEARS OLD. I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR AND I WONDER HOW I CAN EXPECT ANY MEDICAL SUPPORT IN THE COMING YEARS, WHEN THE V.A. SYSTEM IS SO BACKLOGGED AND OVERWHELMED AS IS. I GUESS WE CAN LET GO OF THE WEAK AND ELDERLY, BUT THEN WHO REWRITES THE CODE OF ETHICS ON HUMAN DIGNITY.

[noloyalisti]

We are so cooked in this country. We are going to go broke (Oh wait we alreday are) having big corporations run our health "care" system.

The last thing you want is someone who manages health care being able to profit from it.

[rhs648]

A few incremental changes could greatly improve health care in America. The American voters don't want a revolution, just some positive changes and tweaks. State insurance commissioners already have the authority to approve or deny insurance policy provisions, approve or deny rate increases, and enforce promises made in insurance contracts. The notion that insurance companies are unregulated is ridiculous. A state can allow or ban preexisting conditions clauses, a state can ban insurance companies from denying coverage, and the list goes on. Try tweaking the system, you will get a better response from voters.

[hungry1968-16]

by Mortarman29 August 18, 2009 3:33 PM EDT
Actually, my insurance company has done quite wel.






Of course they have.

It's very easy to make A LOT of money, when you take people's premiums and constantly deny their claims!!

Duh!

[hungry1968-16]

by SpinningLiberals August 18, 2009 12:39 PM EDT
The left wing's "selective outrage" over conservative protests at
town hall meetings puts a HUGE SPOTLIGHT on the left's HYPOCRISY.

THE LEFT IS JUST GETTING A TASTE OF IT'S OWN MEDICINE
AND THE LEFT CAN'T TAKE IT.






You might not realize it dummy, but there's a BIG DIFFERENCE between "patriotic dissent", and lying to create false reasons of fear, to scare uneducated and elderly people into thinking something nefarious is going to come out of health care reform.

[nomealaska]

We the people apparently don't know what we want until somebody tells us. Most of the sheep are listening to the loudest herder - the party of big business (owners of big media also), the pharmaceutical companies and the healthcare industry. Ewe can already hear them bleating at the town hall meetings. Sheep shouldn't carry guns!

[rhs648]

Mortarman29

"Actually, my insurance company has done quite wel. We are pleased with the coverage and service they have provided."

_______________

I've been wanting to say this for a long time. At 61, every health insurance plan which provided me with coverage has paid exactly what they are suppose to pay and have never denied me coverage or canceled a policy. I was afraid to speak up for fear that I would be considered an employee of an insurance company or some right wing conservative. There must be many more people out there who feel the same as we do.

[sjc_1]

Nightly news is heavily sponsored by drug companies. Do you think that if Merck calls GE/NBC and tells them to spin it their way, that they will not take the call? Everything is filtered and censored by corporate interests, it has been all of our lives so we all think it is "normal".

[lasvegastea1]

America needs a public health care option.
I am disappointed that corporate sponsors are dominating how you are slanting coverage of the health care debate.
Think about it, the only segment of our society who benefits from killing a public health care option is the Health Care Industry. I do not trust these corporate sponsors to have my best interests in mind.
The public health care option is the only thing that will balance the power our current system controls.
My confidence in a public health care option is not dwingling.

[zipperfalcon]

STOP ! There is so much noise from the name-calling that nothing is getting done.

The solution is simple. The President, every Senator and Member of the House and all their staff.... get put on the new health care plan. They can keep modifying and changing it until they get it working right, and they can't have any other insurance and can't pay any extra... they have to live with what the plan offers. Either they will come up with an acceptable plan or they will not - but then we will know the answer and the rest of the country will not have to suffer through while they are 'figuring out how to do it'.

[trapbreaking]

We should just outright ban all health insurance companies and send all of their corporate officers to jail for outright bribery and for being all-around sub-human scum-sucking vermin.

HUH? After having given $180 BILLION to AIG in the bailout?

.

[itsourmoney]

How is it that cars are more important than people in the U.S.?
It is a law here to have car insurance but not health insurance!
We need a public health insurance option. Private insurance will always be available to those who want it. Private colleges & universities have survived the public colleges & universities. Neither has suffered from the other's existence. Our government is already providing insurance to millions,except for the healthiest segment under 65, which the private insurers have had benefited from for years.
It is unfair that this group of taxpayers are paying for everyones insurance plans but their own. Why shouldn't they have a public insurance option too?
Citizens should consider this as a great opportunity to seize upon now. Especially if you recall that it was the Democrats that passed the social security and medicare programs for our citizens!

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,
Either way, private or public health care, Americans will Sacrifice with their wallets. We all know public health care will be a significantly cheaper sacrifice.

However, Americans have decided to let this Empire go RIP.

!!!Viva Capitalism!!!

[libertariandon]

Interesting fact, Congress doesn't plan on participating in whatever health care plan they IMPOSE on the rest of us.

If government controlled health care is such a great idea, why are they using our money to fund a different plan for themselves. And, why haven't the media been pointing out this fact? I'll also point out that Congress doesn't rely on social security for their retirement plan. Isn't it nice to know that the people's representatives are smart enough to do something other than what they tell us to do?

I will actively work against the reelection of any congressman or senator that doesn't include themselves in whatever health care plan they force on the taxpayers. I very much hope the rest of "We The People" do the same.

[lovegetpeace]

Hey libertariandon,
If you suceed in getting the same health care plan that our congressman and congresswoman have right now, you will have to accept a 100% Universal Health Care.

Do you recognize that? If yes, then, why are you against Universal Health Care? Please help me understand.

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,

Please do not share the following secrets about our great Private health Insurance industry........

In 2008, the cost of our Private Health Care Insurance increased by 7%.

In 2008, the Out-Of-Pocket Deductible of our Private Health Care Insurance doubled.

In 2008, the Benefits of our Private Health Care Insurance decreased by 11%.

In the last 3 years, Private Insurance Companies have refused 12 million procedures suggested by doctors. Please do not call this rationing or death panel.

In the last 3 years, Private Insurance Companies have dropped 921,300 policies right when the customer got sick. Please do not call this rationing or death panel.

In 2008, the Health Care Industry made a little over $13,000,000,000.00 in Profit.

Now, facts......

All Seniors are very happy with Socialized HealthCare (Medicare). Sooner or later you will be a Senior. All low-income Children are happy with Socialized HealthCare (CHIP). All Military Veterans are very happy with Socialized Health Care. All congressmen and congresswomen are very happy with Socialized Health Care.

Some say the Government does nothing right!

[rocketjl]

As bad as they say it is, I know that I have satisfactory medical care for my wife and I in our remaining years. Obama cannot promise me and deliver that our situation will never be degraded by any new national health care system. This is like many other things from the government, Congress has put this into effect for your benefit, but it will not apply to them. Do the words 'trust me' bring anything to mind. Why not just fix what is broke and only give medical care to illegal immigrants who are in jail waiting to be returned to their country.

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,
If you are lucky to have private health insurance, please open up your wallets if Health Care Reform does not directly address the out-of-control cost of health care or does not pass. Please read what the Experts and not the politicians are saying:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/18/reinhardt.health.inflation/index.html

You can eliminate all Social Programs such as Medicare, CHIP and Medicaid but Health Care cost will continue to suffocate this Empire.

We are getting clearly closer to the 4th U.S. Great Depression between 2017 and 2022!