More Americans are staying away from the doctor, and many of those who must go say they are having trouble paying their medical bills, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's April health tracking poll.
Meanwhile, 59 percent believe health care reform is more important than ever and 37 percent say the nation can’t afford health reform because of economic problems.
"Our polls suggest strong general support for health reform, but the public can be swayed on the key details," Kaiser President and CEO Drew Altman said. "There is still a tremendous opportunity for leadership, but also for interest groups to define the direction of the health reform debate."
For 42 percent of those polled, home remedies and over-the-counter drugs substituted a visit to the doctor, while 36 percent skipped dental care or checkups.
Three in 10 didn’t fill a prescription while two in 10 said they either cut their pills in half or skipped doses.
When it comes to paying for health care reform, 71 percent favor increasing income taxes for families making more than $250,000 a year, but just 28 percent support increasing income taxes on everyone.
Sixty-one percent favor increasing so-called “sin” taxes on items such as soda, alcohol, junk food and cigarettes to pay for health reform and provide coverage for the uninsured.
About half (52 percent) oppose changing the law so workers with the most generous health benefits would pay taxes on the money their employer puts toward their coverage, while 41 percent are in favor. Those who currently have employer-sponsored health insurance are even more likely to oppose the proposal (62 percent oppose, 33 percent favor).
When asked about making changes to the program as a way to keep Medicare financially sound, reducing payments to managed care plans and other private insurers is strongly or somewhat supported by two-thirds (66 percent) of the public. Two-thirds (65 percent) also support reducing Medicare payments to doctors and hospitals.
No comments:
Post a Comment