Numbers Off the Charts in New California Field Poll on Health Care--Should Provide Impetus for Reforms

On all 6 questions asked about, California voters, by wide margins indicated they were not just concerned—but very concerned about these aspects of health care:

Not having or losing your health care coverage—57% very concerned and another 17% somewhat concerned, combining for 74%.

Not being able to pay for all the costs associated with a major illness or injury—59% very concerned and another 22% somewhat concerned, combining to 81%.

Not having access to quality doctors and health care services—51% very concerns and 23% somewhat concerned, combining to 74%.

Employers cutting back on the amount they contribute to their workers' health care coverage—49% very concerned and 30% somewhat concerned, combining to 79%.

Having to pay more out of pocket for your health insurance coverage—58% very concerned and 30% somewhat concerned, combining to 88%. This was the highest identified in the poll.

Having your or a family member's health coverage canceled or severely limited by an insurance provider due to a health condition—59% very concerned and 19% somewhat concerned, combining to 78%.

Those who were either not too concerned or not at all concerned on these questions combined to between 12% and 25%. The ranks of those concerned have increased since the last poll taken in December. 39% of California voters are of the opinion that our current creaky health care system will be worse in the next 5 years, compared with only 13% who feel it will be better and another 38% who think it will be more or less the same.

A Federal, State, or Combined Response?

41% of respondents said the Federal government was best suited to enact the changes needed in health care and 35% said it was the state. Another 12% said it was the responsibility of both.

Only 8% said neither the Federal or state government was best suited.

Californians Overwhelmingly Favor Different Components of Health Reform

Clearly this should help with some of the bills pending in the state legislature, even if comprehensive health reform will not make it in the current session. Look at these numbers.

Requiring health insurance companies to offer coverage to anyone without regard to their health condition—favored very strongly by 57% and somewhat strongly by 27%, combining to 84%.

Providing state-subsidized health insurance coverage to low income adults—77%.

Requiring employers to help pay for their employees’ health coverage on a sliding scale, with larger companies paying more and smaller companies paying less –73%.

Requiring all Californians to have a minimum level of health coverage either by purchasing it themselves or by obtaining it through an employer or government agency—68%--the lowest of any component and also with the highest opposition at 29%

Providing state tax credits to moderate income people if they needed to buy health insurance in the open market—78%.

Providing health coverage to an estimated 3 million California adults currently without insurance by sharing costs and extending coverage among employers, government and individuals—70%.

Providing health coverage to an estimated 800,000 California children who are currently without health insurance by expanding existing state health insurance programs like Medi-Cal and Healthy Families—78%.

Voters Are Very Approving of All Funding Sources Except for the Hospital Fee

Over 70% of California voters supported the mechanisms proposed to fund the health reform bill—with one exception. The proposed 4% increase on hospital fees—was strongly opposed by 50% and somewhat by another 27%--combining to 77%.

But the following has strong support to pay for health care legislation:

• Requiring all employers to provide a minimum contribution toward their employee’s health coverage based on a company’s size, with larger companies paying more and smaller companies paying less

• Increasing state cigarette taxes by 1 dollar and 5 cents per pack

• Icreasing the amount of federal matching funds that California receives under existing federal health care programs

• Getting more individuals currently without insurance to pay for a minimum level of their health coverage with the amount paid based on their family income

Concerns About the Schwarzenegger-Nunez Bill

The proposition that “There were no real guarantees that the insurance policies that uninsured, moderate income people would be required to buy under the proposed health reform plan would be affordable” was endorsed by 62% of those surveyed.

Also, the statement that “The proposed new tax revenues designed to help the state pay for the costs of providing more people with health coverage would not be enough to keep up with rising health care costs” was agreed to by 67% of those questioned.

Conclusion

Take a look at the may health bills of interest to health care advocates identified by Anthony Wright of Health Access California yesterday in these pages—and you will many winners with the voters, even if a mega bill containing comprehensive health care does not pass this year in the California legislature and get signed into law by the Governor. Passage could do well for the reputation of the legislature and the Governor, who according to these results from Field, are not viewed all that well by California voters on the health care constellation of issues.

There are many interesting breakdowns on the questions posed by this poll that show overwhelming support by California’s Democrats and independents on these issues—and even grudging support by many of our state’ Republican voters for some action here.