FACT CHECK Redux: Polls Show American People Satisfied With Their Health Plan

Posted by The Campaign on January 27, 2010 at 2:50 PM

Much of the focus of recent polling has been on specific reform proposals.  However, a number of surveys conducted throughout 2009 showed a common thread -- people's satisfaction with their own health insurance or health coverage.  

We have included a number of these findings below:

CNN/Opinion Research:

• 74% of people are satisfied with their personal health insurance coverage. 
• 83% of people are satisfied with their own health care.

Employee Benefits Research Institute:

• Fifty-eight percent of those with health insurance coverage are extremely or very satisfied with their current plan, and approximately one-third (30 percent) are somewhat satisfied.

Fox News/Opinion Dynamics:

• 84% of people surveyed said the quality of their personal health insurance was either excellent or good. 
• 83% of people surveyed said the quality of care they receive is either excellent or good.

Quinnipiac University:

• 85% of Americans are very or somewhat satisfied with their own health insurance plan.

The University of Texas/Zogby International:

• 84% of people are satisfied with their health care.

The Washington Post:

• 81% of people are satisfied with their health insurance coverage. 
• 88% of people are satisfied with the quality of care they receive.

The New York Times:

• 77% of people are satisfied with the quality of their own care. 
• 77% of people said that basic medical care covered by their health insurance plan is affordable.

Democracy Corps:

• 72% of people are satisfied with their own health insurance coverage vs. 75% in 1993 - not a significant change.
• 76% of self-identified independents are satisfied with their coverage as are 72% of Democrats and 78% of Republicans.

Gallup:

• "Among all Americans, 83% say the quality of healthcare they receive is either ‘excellent' or ‘good.' Only 16% say it's either ‘only fair' or ‘poor.'" 
• "Americans are only a bit less positive about their own healthcare coverage, with 67% describing the coverage they now have as excellent or good." 
• Gallup's conclusion: "At the same time, [Americans surveyed] are pleased with the quality of medical treatment in the country, and are mostly satisfied with their own healthcare quality, coverage, and costs."

CNN/Opinion Research Poll:

• In March 2009, 73% of Americans were satisfied with their own health insurance coverage. NOTE: In November 2007, the satisfaction rating was 69%.

Employee Benefits Research Institute:

• 93% of people enrolled in a traditional health care plan were satisfied with the quality of coverage they received through their health plan (including 31% extremely satisfied). 
• 93% of people enrolled in a traditional health care plan were satisfied with their plan. 
• 86% of people enrolled in a traditional health care plan were likely to stay with their current plan.

Tags: Poll Vault, Fact Check, Health Plans

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POLL VAULT: New Pew Poll Shows Americans Trust Health Plans More than Government

Posted by The Campaign on January 14, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Pew Research Center released its latest poll today, and there was an extensive section on health care and health care reform.  One of the questions posed was "Who do you trust more when it comes to deciding what kinds of medical procedures should be covered by health insurance?"

Here are the results from that question:

“More Americans trust private insurance companies rather than the government to make decisions about what kinds of medical procedures should be covered by health insurance. A 45% plurality is more confident in insurance companies, 31% are more confident in the government, with 16% volunteering that they do not trust either.” (p. 16)

NOTE: This is a net positive of 8% of people trusting private insurance companies more than the government with respect to decisions over medical procedure coverage decisions from July 2009. (p.48)

“Among the 54% of Americans who say they have insurance through a private insurance company, more trust private insurers (45%) than the government (29%). Among the 24% who say their main source of insurance is a government program, 47% trust private insurers more, while 27% trust the government more.” (p. 17)

Click here for the full results.

Tags: Poll Vault, Health Plans

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