Survey: Most Want Health Care Overhaul

Half of middle- and lower-income Americans have serious problems paying their medical bills, and more than three-fourths say the system is in need of a major overhaul, according to a new survey.

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.