Health Care Polling: The Haves Vs. The Have Nots

5192100As Congress takes their summer recess, the debate over health care reform has certainly not taken a vacation. Recent polling by CBS News takes a look at views on health care reform among two groups: "the haves" (those who have insurance) and "the have nots" (those without it).

Even though these groups find themselves in different situations regarding their own health care, they actually agree on many aspects of the reform proposals. Still, insured Americans, who are generally satisfied with their coverage, are a bit more skeptical than those who are now uninsured.

Two CBS News surveys were combined for this analysis in order to yield larger sample sizes. One was conducted in June, the other in July.

Generally, most Americans think the country's current health care system is at least in need of fundamental change, with nearly half (46 percent) of those without health coverage saying the whole system needs to be rebuilt.

Americans who are currently insured favor reform, but more think major changes (52 percent) are needed rather than a completely rebuilt system (30 percent).

More specifically, when asked whether keeping costs down or covering the uninsured is a more serious problem, 55 percent of those with insurance say the number of uninsured Americans is more serious, but that number rises to 74 percent among those who are currently without health care coverage.

Those with health insurance are more than twice likely as those without it to say controlling costs is a more serious problem.

Both groups support a government insurance program, similar to Medicare, that would compete with private insurers, with those who are uninsured especially supportive of a public option.

Most Americans, insured or not, also think insurance companies should cover anyone who applies, regardless of any pre-existing medical condition.

And among those with coverage, more than half think insurers should cover anyone who applies even if it meant the cost of their own insurance would go up.

This is not to say that insured Americans are without concern about what would happen if the government creates a system of providing insurance for all. A CBS News/New York Times Poll conducted in July found that majorities worry about diminished quality of care (72 percent) and about having to change doctors (65 percent).

On the other hand, this same group is also concerned if the government does not act to cover everybody. Seventy-nine percent are concerned the number of uninsured will rise and 64 percent are concerned they could be without coverage themselves someday.

Despite finding their own health care affordable, rising costs also remain a concern among insured Americans. Three in four of those with health insurance say they are concerned about costs going up regardless of whether the government creates a program to cover all Americans or not.

There is one area where there is a striking difference between these two groups, and that's President Obama's handling of health care.

Those who currently have health insurance (most of Americans) are divided on the president's handling of health care, but six in 10 of those without coverage approve of his handling of the issue.

Uninsured Americans are more likely to be younger, unmarried, and earn lower incomes -- groups that generally support the President.

It should be noted that the sample size for the uninsured population in this analysis is relatively small and subject to greater sampling error.