Public Opinion Landscape - Health Care

The Public Opinion Landscape: Health Care

October 1, 2013

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Importance of Health Care, Health Care Issues

2. Health Care Reform

3. Elements of Reform

4. Effects of Reform

5. Players

Slide

2

8

17

26

31

IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH CARE, HEALTH CARE ISSUES

AMERICANS’ CONFIDENCE IN U.S. MEDICAL SYSTEM DROPS

3

Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself have in the U.S. medical system – a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little?

Source: Gallup Poll, June 1-4, 2013

NEARLY 3-IN-10 AMERICANS BELIEVE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM MUST BE COMPLETELY REBUILT

4

Do you think [INSERT ITEM] in this country works pretty well and requires only MINOR CHANGES, do you think it needs MAJOR CHANGES, or do you think it needs to be COMPLETELY REBUILT?

Source: Pew Research Center Poll, May 1-5, 2013

19%

21%

27%

27%

21%

32%

35%

26%

34%

31%

37%

45%

40%

39%

51%

40%

36%

32%

31%

26%

21%

Homeland security system

Social Security system

Medicare system

Health care system

Education system

Tax system

Immigration policy

Needs to be completely

rebuilt

Needs major changes

Works pretty well / minor

changes

NET: Rebuilt/major

75%

72%

66%

64%

58%

54%

44%

YET, VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SATISFIED WITH MEDICAL CARE & HEALTH COVERAGE

5

Would you say you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with the medical care and health coverage you and your family receive?

Source: NBC/WSJ Survey, September 5-8, 2013

31%

42%

12% 13%

Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhatdissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

73% Satisfied

25% Dissatisfied

Note: “Not sure” results are not shown.

MOST AMERICANS HAVE FAVORABLE VIEW OF DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS; LESS ENAMORED WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AND INSURERS

6 Note: “Don’t know/Refused” results are not shown.

Do you have a generally (favorable) or generally (unfavorable) opinion of…? Favorable Unfavorable Difference

Doctors 80% 14% +66

Hospitals 73% 22% +51

Airlines 53% 30% +23

President Barack Obama 52% 43% +9

Banks 50% 42% +8

Drug or pharmaceutical companies 43% 47% -4

Health insurance companies 44% 48% -4

ObamaCare 42% 47% -5

Democrats in Congress 41% 48% -7

Republicans in Congress 35% 55% -20

Oil companies 31% 57% -26

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll. June 4-9, 2013

ECONOMY TOPS ISSUES LIST; HEALTH CARE IS A DISTANT FOURTH

5%

5%

5%

8%

10%

16%

17%

21%

Foreign aid/Focus overseas

Ethical/Moral/Family decline

Federal budget deficit

Situation in Syria

Healthcare

Dissatisfaction with government

Unemployment/Jobs

Economy in general

7

What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? [Open-ended]

Source: Gallup Poll, September 5-8, 2013

Issues mentioned by 4% or less not shown

4 HEALTH CARE REFORM

OVER FOUR IN TEN UNSURE WHETHER ACA REMAINS LAW OF LAND

9

As you may know, a health care bill was signed into law in 2010. As far as you know, which comes closest to describing the current status of the health care law?

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll Omnibus Supplement, August 15-18, 2013

NEGATIVE VIEWS OF ACA CONTINUE TO OUTPACE POSITIVE

10

As you may know, a health reform bill was signed into law in 2010. Given what you know about the health reform law, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable opinion of it?

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll, September 12-18, 2013

11

DIFFERENT POLLS SHOW VARYING LEVELS OF OPPOSITION/DISAPPROVAL FOR HEALTH CARE LAW

CNN / ORC

ABC/Wash Post

CBS News/NY Times

Approve/Support Disapprove/Oppose

Pew/USA Today

39%

39%

42%

42%

38%

43%

51%

52%

53%

57%

Kaiser

Don’t know/ No opinion

4%

6%

10%

5%

17%

DIFFERENT POLLS SHOW VARYING LEVELS OF OPPOSITION/DISAPPROVAL (The Details)

12

Organization Dates Question Wording Results

CNN / ORC Poll 9/27-29

As you may know, a bill that makes major changes to the country's health care system became law in 2010. Based on what you have read or heard about that legislation, do you generally favor or generally oppose it?

Favor: 38% Oppose: 57% Unsure: 4%

Pew / USA Today 9/4-8 Do you approve or disapprove of the health care law

passed by Barack Obama and Congress in 2010?

Approve: 42% Disapprove: 53%

Unsure: 5%

Washington Post /

ABC News 9/12-15 Overall, do you support or oppose the federal law making

changes to the health care system?

Support: 42% Oppose: 52% Unsure: 6%

CBS News / NY Times 9/19-23

From what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the health care law that was enacted in 2010?

Approve: 39% Disapprove: 51%

Unsure: 10%

Kaiser Family Foundation 9/12-18

As you may know, a health reform bill was signed into law in 2010. Given what you know about the health reform law, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable opinion of it?

Favorable: 39% Unfavorable: 43%

Unsure: 17%

ONGOING PARTISAN DIVIDE ON ACA

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Percent who say they have a favorable opinion of the health reform law


OBAMACARE VS. AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

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Source: CNBC AAES Third-Quarter Survey, September 16-19, 2013

What are your feelings toward… Obamacare Affordable Care Act

POSITIVE (NET) 29% 22%

Very positive 14% 10%

Somewhat positive 15% 12%

Neutral 13% 11%

Somewhat negative 11% 13%

Very negative 35% 24%

NEGATIVE (NET) 46% 37%

Don’t know enough to say/not sure 12% 30%

Putting Obama in the name raises the positives and the negatives.

30 percent of the public don't know what ACA is, vs. only 12 percent when asked about Obamacare.

Asked of half samples

STEADY OPPOSITION TO DEFUNDING THE ACA SINCE 2011

15

Some lawmakers who oppose the health care law say that if Congress isn’t able to repeal the law, they should try to stop it from being put into place by cutting off funding to implement it. Whether or not you like the health care law, would you say you approve or disapprove of cutting off funding as a way to stop some or all of the law from being put into place?


62% 61% 64% 64% 63% 58% 56% 58% 57% 56%

33% 34% 30% 30% 33% 32% 35% 31% 36% 37%

Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 May-12 Jul-12 Apr-13 Aug-13 Sep-13

Disapprove of cutting off funding

Approve of cutting off funding

Note: “Don’t know” results are not shown.

OPPONENTS OF HEALTH CARE LAW DIVIDED OVER NEXT STEPS

16

IF DISAPPROVE: What do you think elected officials who oppose the health care law should do now that the law has started to take effect?

Source: Pew Research/USA Today Poll, September 4-8, 2013

Disapprove 53%

Approve 42%

DK 5%

View of 2010 health care law

Make it work as well as possible

27%

Make it fail 23%

PLAYERS ELEMENTS OF REFORM

MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DON’T FEEL THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGES WILL OCCUR WITH ACA

18

Do you feel that you personally do or do not have the information you need to understand what changes will occur as the new health care law takes effect?

Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013

Do not have the information

62% Do have the information

35% DK/Ref

2%

SOME CONFUSION REMAINS ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THE LAW WILL HAVE

19

Do you feel you have a good understanding of how the 2010 health care law will affect you and your family, or is it confusing to you?

Source: CBS News/NY Times Poll, September 19-23, 2013

53%

48%

52% 51%

41%

47% 44%

46%

Mar-10 Mar-12 Jul-13 Sep-13

No, it's confusingYes, understand

Note: “Don’t know/No answer” results are not shown.

20

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll. September 12-18, 2013

MOST REPORT HEARING LITTLE OR NOTHING ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES

As you may know, the health care law does create health insurance exchanges or marketplaces where people who don’t get coverage through their employers can shop for insurance and compare prices and benefits. How much, if anything, have you heard about this new health insurance marketplace, [also known as (STATE EXCHANGE NAME)] in your state?

5% 14%

32%

48%

A lot Some Only a little Nothing at all

19% A lot / Some

80% A little / Nothing


21

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll. September 12-18, 2013

MOST OF THE UNINSURED DON’T KNOW EXCHANGES OPEN ON OCTOBER 1st

Do you happen to know when people will be able to begin shopping and signing up for health insurance using the health insurance marketplace?

LESS THAN HALF OF UNINSURED SAY THEY WILL USE THE STATE OR FEDERAL EXCHANGES

22


More likely to get health insurance or pay the fine % Get health insurance 65 Pay the fine 25 No opinion 11

Plan on getting health insurance for 2014 through a state or federal health insurance exchange

%

Yes, plan to 48 No, do not plan to 36 Not decided yet/No opinion 17

Uninsured Americans’ Plans Regarding Health Insurance

UNISURED THINK EXCHANGES WILL BE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND AND THE INSURANCE THEY PROVIDE WILL BE EXPENSIVE

23

How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Source: Harris Poll, September 13-17, 2013

42%

53%

70%

72%

The process of enrolling in health insurance onan exchange is going to be easy to understand

I will be able to find a plan on an exchange thatwill meet my health needs at a reasonable price

Health insurance exchanges are going to bedifficult to understand

Health insurance purchased through anexchange will be expensive

Among Uninsured % Agree

31% OF UNINSURED UNAWARE THEY MUST GET COVERAGE

24

According to the Affordable Care Act, starting in January 2014, most Americans will be required to have health insurance or pay a fine. Were you aware of this before now, or not?


All Insured Uninsured

Yes, aware 83% 86% 68%

No, not aware 17% 13% 31%

MAJORITY OF AMERICANS FAVOR DELAYING INDIVIDUAL MANDATE FOR ONE YEAR

25

As you may know, the federal health care law requires nearly all Americans to obtain health insurance by January 1, 2014. Would you favor or oppose delaying this requirement for one year?

Source: Reason-Rupe Survey, September 4-8, 2013

Favor 60%

Oppose 35%

DK/Ref 4%

PLAYERS EFFECTS OF REFORM

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Source: ABC/Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013

MORE SAY LAW HAS HAD NEGATIVE RATHER THAN POSITIVE EFFECTS SO FAR, ALTHOUGH MANY AS YET SEE NO IMPACT

Thinking specifically about [ITEM] – so far has the health care law made this better, made it worse, or had no effect?

19% 9% 11% 12%

36% 33% 25% 22%

39%

55% 61% 63%

The health care system Your and your family'shealth care costs

Your and your family'shealth insurance

coverage

The quality of the healthcare you and your family

receive

Better Worse No effect

Note: “No opinion” results are not shown.

28

Source: CBS/NY Times Poll, September 19-23, 2013

NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS SEE AN ECONOMIC DOWNSIDE TO LAW

In the long run, do you think the 2010 health care law will improve the national economy, hurt the national economy, or won’t it affect the national economy?

TOTAL REP DEM IND Improve 26% 7% 47% 21% Hurt 49% 79% 22% 52% No effect 18% 11% 23% 17% Don’t know 8% 2% 8% 10%

29

Thinking about the new health care law, do you feel more reassured or worried about your personal health care in the future?

And from what you have heard about the new health care law, do you believe it will result in the cost of your health care – going up, going down, or staying about the same as now?

Source: Fox News Poll, June 22-24, 2013

AMERICANS WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE HEALTH CARE; FEAR COSTS WILL GO UP

Worried 66%

Reassured 23%

Same 7%

DK 4%

Increase 52%

Decrease 9%

Stay the Same 20%

No opinion / DK

19%

Source: NBC/WSJ Survey, Sept 5-8, 2013

HALF OF U.S. SMALL BUSINESSES THINK HEALTH LAW BAD FOR THEM

30

Overall, do you think the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is going to be good for your business, bad for your business, or have no impact on your business?

Source: Gallup Poll, April 1-5, 2013

39%

48%

9%

Have no impact onyour business

Bad for yourbusiness

Good for yourbusiness

Have you done any of the following as a specific result of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, or not?

% Yes

Held off on plans to hire new employees 41%

Pulled back on plans to grow your business 38%

Considered dropping health insurance coverage for your employees 24%

Reduced the number of employees you have in your business 19%

Reduced the hours of employees to part time 18%

FORTY-ONE PERCENT ARE HOLDING OFF ON HIRING BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

PLAYERS PLAYERS

32

MORE DISAPPROVE THAN APPROVE OF OBAMA’S HANDLING OF HEALTH CARE

Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data as September 26, 2013

DISAPPROVE 52.7%

APPROVE 39.4%

OBAMA JOB APPROVAL – HEALTH CARE

MAJORITY THINK IMPLEMENTATION OF ACA IS NOT GOING WELL

33

Turning to health care… so far, do you think the implementation of the federal health care law, known as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, is going very well, somewhat well, not too well, or not well at all?

Source: Reason-Rupe Survey, September 4-8, 2013

10%

24% 21%

41%

Very well Somewhat well Not too well Not well at all

34% Well

62% Not well


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MOST DISAPPROVE OF THE WAY OBAMA IS HANDLING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW

Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling implementation of the new health care law?

Who do you trust to do a better job handling implementation of the new health care law – Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

Disapprove 55%

Approve 34%

No opinion

11% 4%

16%

1%

38%

41%

No opinion

Neither (vol.)

Both (vol.)

Reps

Obama

35

PUBLIC SAYS MEDIA COVERAGE MORE ABOUT POLITICS THAN PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Thinking in general about the news media’s coverage of the health care law, would you say the mix of coverage has been mostly about (politics and controversies), mostly about (how the law might impact people), or has been a balance of the two?

Do you think the news media coverage you’ve seen about the health care law is biased (in favor of) the law, biased (against) the law, or is it mostly balanced?

Mostly about politics and

controversies 56%

Balance of the two

33%

Mostly about how the law might impact

people 6%

10%

43%

27%

20%

DK/REF

Mostly balanced

Biased against

Biased in favor


DK/REF 5%

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GPG Research

GPG has a full-scale internal research team offering the full complement of qualitative and quantitative public opinion research services. We use research to inform message development and communication strategy, as well as to help clients assess and monitor critical issues and track the effectiveness of strategic communication campaigns.

GPG has a deep experience conducting research about complex health care topics with diverse audiences. We go beyond the standard Q&A, using innovative, projective techniques to uncover key insights. The result is actionable research that helps shape our clients’ messaging and strategy.

For more information about this presentation or to find out more about GPG’s research capabilities contact:

Jason Boxt ([email protected]) I Chris Gallup ([email protected])

News & Politics

Public Opinion Landscape - Health Care