WASHINGTON, April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Likely voters in 17 “battleground” states say they think the election-year health care debate has been too political, and that politicians need to do more to address priorities such as medical liability reform, using preventive care to control costs, and giving seniors access to private sector choices. Those are the findings of a new poll released by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the trade association representing companies providing health benefits for 200 million Americans.
The poll also found strong support for the role that the private sector plays in the health care system, showing that voters favor solutions that rely on private sector techniques and capabilities to deliver high quality, affordable health care. The survey was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies.
“Everyone has been asking the candidates where they stand on key health care issues,” said AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni. “We decided to ask the voters. Their message is clear: Health care is a priority; voters want a different kind of debate than they have been getting; and they strongly believe that the private sector has a valuable role to play in improving access, affordability and quality in the system. This survey shows that candidates who understand and respond to this message will have a better chance of success on Election Day.”
According to political experts, the 2004 presidential election is likely to be decided by the outcomes of 17 “swing” states which are considered to be “up for grabs” in the campaign. AHIP’s survey focused on likely voters from these states, in an effort to shed light on their health care priorities with seven months remaining before Election Day.
“Swing state voters believe it is time for change in the U.S. health care system,” said Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies. “Voters are highly concerned about how to improve access to affordable health care, and they want to hear more from the political candidates about how they would address this very important priority.”
AHIP Launches Voter Empowerment Project
AHIP also announced the launch of a new voter empowerment program, entitled “Your Health Care, Your Vote.” The initiative will use a combination of paid advertising, direct mail and grassroots operations to help voters sort rhetoric from reality during the 2004 election. AHIP has established a rapid response center in Washington, which will draw upon a growing databank of research and information to urge candidates to more fully engage in a substantive debate about improving the health care system.
“The voters want a different kind of health care debate, and we are mobilizing our resources to make sure that they have the tools and the facts they need to hold politicians accountable,” said Ignagni. “This election year, we will push politicians to fully address the health care priorities and concerns of the American voters.”
More Poll Results Voters More Likely to Vote for Candidates Who Support ... * Allowing health care providers to report incidents without fear of being sued (77% more likely to vote for a candidate) * Giving Medicare beneficiaries access to private health plan choices (75%) * Disclosure of medical quality and safety information (74%) * Reforming medical malpractice (72%) * Encouraging doctors to base treatment on the best scientific research (70%) * Encouraging doctors to incorporate uniform standards of medical evidence (70%) * Establishing tax-free health care savings accounts (63%) * Using medical evidence to evaluate every new health care law (56%)
Strong Support for Medical Liability Reform. The poll finds evidence that likely voters understand how medical liability lawsuits undermine quality and make health care more expensive. The vast majority (72%) of likely voters said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports “reforming medical malpractice by reducing the amount of money that trial lawyers make from punitive damages.” Seventy-seven percent of likely voters would be more likely to vote for candidates who support allowing medical providers to report medical mistakes without fear of being sued.
Voters Want A Different Kind of Health Care Debate. The vast majority of swing-state voters (81%) said the health care debate has been “too political,” and a slight plurality (43%) said their needs have been ignored in this debate. These likely voters said they want political candidates to do more to address a range of key health care issues, including
* medical malpractice reform * using medical evidence to improve quality * reducing medical errors * putting information about doctors and hospitals in the hands of consumers * helping the uninsured get health coverage.
Cost, Access Top Health Concerns of Voters. According to the poll, “controlling cost” was cited by voters as the most important health care issue in evaluating candidates in the 2004 election. Other top health care priorities cited by these likely voters were “covering the uninsured,” “dealing with the cost of prescription drugs,” “limiting lawyer fees from medical malpractice lawsuits,” “funding Medicare,” and promoting “evidence- based medicine.”
Voters Say Private Sector Should Play Role In Medicare. When asked about Medicare, likely voters overwhelmingly (93%) agreed it was “important” that Medicare beneficiaries have access to private health insurance plans. Seventy-six percent of voters said when they hear candidates criticizing using private health insurance plans in Medicare, they are doing so to “gain political advantage” rather than “protecting seniors.” And 75% said they would be more likely to vote for candidates who support “using competition between private health plans to give seniors the best benefits at the most affordable cost.”
Voters Favor Private Sector Partnership in Health Care. The poll finds that while likely voters support changes in the health care system, they are believe the private sector is best suited to achieve positive results in many areas. In five of seven key measures of health care performance, voters favored the private sector over the government:
* Assessing and utilizing new technology * Incorporating the newest and best scientific evidence into the practice of medicine * Delivering treatments and care the moment it is needed * Distributing and using resources efficiently * Using screenings and treatments to prevent illnesses before they occur America’s Health Insurance Plans -- Providing Health Benefits to More Than 200 Million Americans For more information, go to http://www.ahip.net/
America’s Health Insurance Plans
CONTACT: Mohit M. Ghose of America’s Health Insurance Plans,+1-202-778-8494, mghose@ahip.net
Web site: http://www.ahip.net/
