The Washington Poll: Health Care Reform Issues Analysis Sara Vaezy, MHA MPHc & Lauren Carr, MPHc University of Washington School of Public Health Department of Health Services March 8, 2010

Washington Poll Poll was conducted October 14-26, 2009 on a randomly selected sample of registered Washington voters (n=724 ± 3.6 percentage points) Questions were asked regarding upcoming election (November 2009) Health care reform were questions included in order to gauge public opinion on health care issues

What are voters’ top issues? What general issues are most important to you as you decide how you will vote (top issue) ? – Health care reform was the second most important issue to poll respondents (18%), second to Jobs & the Economy (21%). All other responses constituted less than 15% each.

Health Care Reform & Political Identity Of those who chose health care as their top issue, the graph below shows the distribution of their political identities: Overall distribution: 38% Dem; 30% Indep; 26% Repub; 5% None

Health Care Reform & Geography Of those who chose health care as their top issue, the graph below shows their areas of residence throughout the state: Overall distribution: 52% Puget; 23% Eastern; 25% Other Western WA

Health Care Reform & Ideology Of those who chose health care as their top issue, the graph below shows their ideological breakdowns:

Health Care Coverage & Taxes Of all poll respondents, 52% said they were willing to pay additional taxes to ensure that all American citizens have adequate and reliable health insurance.

Health Care Reform Preferences All poll respondents were asked to think about the current federal health care debate and consider several popular provisions. They were asked: Please tell me whether you think it is very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important for Congress to include this provision in any reform of health care. These are their responses:

Provision 1: Health Insurance Portability Of all poll respondents, 92% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions ensuring people don’t lose their health insurance when they switch jobs.

Provision 2: Pre-existing Condition Exclusions Of all poll respondents, 93% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions ensuring no one is denied health insurance coverage because of a pre‐existing illness or condition like heart disease or diabetes.

Provision 3: Public Option Of all poll respondents, 75% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions to provide a public insurance option open to anyone who wishes to choose it.

Provision 4: Minimum Level of Coverage Of all poll respondents, 63% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions to require all Americans to have some minimum level of health insurance coverage

Provision 5: Prevent Illegal Immigrants from Getting Public Insurance Of all poll respondents, 68% believe it is important for Congress include provisions to prevent illegal immigrants from getting health care paid for by tax dollars

Provision 6: Cost Containment Of poll all respondents, 92% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions to control the rising cost of medical care

Provision 7: Elderly Drug Coverage Of all poll respondents, 88% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions to ensure that the elderly have complete drug coverage through Medicare (i.e. eliminate the “donut-hole”)

Provision 8: Medical Malpractice Reform Of all poll respondents, 88% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions to reform the medical malpractice system

Provision 9: Medical Effectiveness Research Of all poll respondents, 88% believe it is important for Congress to include provisions to fund research on the effectiveness of medical treatments