National Voter Survey Health Care
June 15-17, 2009
Methodology
The following national survey was conducted by OnMessage Inc. Telephone interviews were conducted June 15-17, 2009. This presentation consists of two surveys each including 1,100 likely general election voters. Both surveys were stratified by state to reflect historic voter trends. The margin of error for both surveys is +/- 2.95%.
2
Political Environment
Generic Ballot
Congressional
4
Breakdown: Generic Congressional Ballot
Party Affiliation/Ticketsplitters
25%
17%
22%
19%
16%
25%
5
Image Tests
National
Barack Obama
Very Fav Somewhat Fav Somewhat Unfav Very Unfav
No Opinion Never Heard Of
Nancy Pelosi
Harry Reid
Favor
61
33
20
Unfav
Do you…
33
50
33
6
Breakdown: Obama Image
Party Affiliation/Ticketsplitters
7
Job Approval
Obama
Overall
Approve
Strongly Approve DK/Refused Somewhat Approve Somewhat Disapprove Strongly Disapprove
Health Care
61
Net: +27
43
Net: +5
Disapprove
Do you…
34
38
8
Thinking about the elections next year which of the following candidates for congress would you most likely vote for? A candidate who would be a check and balance to President Obama and the Democrats in congress. …OR… A candidate who would help President Obama and the Democrats in congress pass their agenda.
9
Breakdown: Check / Balance
Party Affiliation/Ticketsplitters
10
Health Care Overview
What is the biggest concern that you currently have regarding health care? Health care in America costs too much …OR… Too many Americans do not have access to health care …OR… The quality of care in America is not good enough
12
Thinking about health care right now, which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion? Access to affordable health care is a RIGHT of every American and the government should take a more active role to insure that every American has access to health care. …OR… Government should take a more active role in lowering the cost of health care but the government should not try to run our health care system.
13
Breakdown: Gov’t Not Run Or Active Role?
Party Affiliation/Ticketsplitters
14
America has the best health care in the world…
Disagree Do you… Agree
42
54
Strongly Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Somewhat Agree
Strongly Agree
15
America’s health care system is broken and badly in need of reform.
Disagree Do you… Agree
28
70
Strongly Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Somewhat Agree
Strongly Agree
16
Which political Party do you trust more to fix the health care problem in America?
Democrats Do you trust… Republicans
48
29
Strongly Trust (D)
Somewhat Trust (D)
Somewhat Trust (R)
Strongly Trust (R)
17
What is your biggest fear when thinking about the Republican health care reform plan?
1.
Anything the Republicans pass will help insurance and drug companies more than ordinary people. The Republican plan will leave too many Americans without health care coverage. The Republicans would simply oppose any plan that the president and the Democrats in congress put forward.
2.
3.
18
What is your biggest fear when thinking about the Democrats health care reform plan?
1.
The Democrats would create a government run system that will cost taxpayers trillions of dollars. The Democrats would create a system that will end up choosing what doctors you can see and the type of care you can receive. The Democrats would create a system that would lead to lengthy delays and denial of care for millions of Americans. The Democrats would create a system that would reduce the quality of health care services.
2.
3.
4.
19
Health Care Policy Testing
Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American and let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it.
Oppose Do you… Favor
9
88
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
21
InsuranceCare Health companies should be forced to give coverage to any American regardless of pre-existing medical conditions. Favor | Solutions
Oppose Do you… Favor
22
71
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
22
Tax credits should be provided to help small businesses cover Health Care the administrative costs of establishing and maintaining health Favor | Solutions coverage for their employees.
Oppose Do you… Favor
15
79
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
23
Message Testing
One way to help lower health care costs is to reform our legal Healthto cut down on frivolous lawsuits that cost hospitals system Care Agree | Statements millions of dollars a year. and doctors
Disagree Do you… Agree
14
81
Strongly Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Somewhat Agree
Strongly Agree
25
Americans should not be forced into a new government run health care plan that would eliminate the health coverage that Health Care more | Statements Agreethan 100 million Americans currently receive through their job and limit their choice of doctors and medical treatment options.
Disagree Do you… Agree
18
73
Strongly Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Somewhat Agree
Strongly Agree
26
The American people want to reform health care but they Health Care don’t want a government bureaucracy that denies, delays, or rations Statements Agree | health care. Americans don’t want the same system that runs the IRS and the Department of Motor Vehicles to make life and death decisions for you and all the members of your family.
Disagree Do you… Agree
14
77
Strongly Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Somewhat Agree
Strongly Agree
27
The health care reform plan put forth by the President and the Democrats Health Carein Congress will cost over a trillion dollars in additional federal spending. That’s $7,199 for every taxpayer More Favorable | Obama / Dem. Plan in America today.
Less Favorable Do you… More Favorable
65
22
Much Less
Somewhat Less
Somewhat More
Much More
28
President’s Plan
Now, I am going to read you a short description of President Obama’s proposed plan for health care reform. Please tell me whether you favor or oppose this plan: President Obama has proposed a comprehensive health care reform plan that will Favor |government run health care insurance agency competing with private create a Obama Plan health insurers. Health care insurance will be required for everyone. People who cannot afford it will receive a government subsidy and be placed in a government run plan. The president’s plan will fine businesses that do not provide health care for their employees and will require private insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions. Finally, the president says his plan will not raise the deficit because it will be paid for with a number of new or increased federal taxes.
Health Care
Oppose
Do you…
Favor
48
Strongly Oppose Somewhat Oppose Somewhat Favor Strongly Favor
46
30
President’s Plan: Creating a government run health insurance Health Care agency Obama Plan Favor | that will compete with private insurance companies.
Oppose Do you… Favor
35
58
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
31
President’s Plan: Requiring everyone to buy health insurance Health Care employer or with government help if you either through your Favor | Obama Plancan’t afford it.
Oppose Do you… Favor
35
57
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
32
President’s Plan: The government’s effort to control health Health Care care costs by setting pricing for services and deciding what Favor | Obama Plan it will and will not cover. treatments
Oppose Do you… Favor
63
30
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
33
President’s Plan: Fining companies that do not provide health Health Care care Obama Plan Favor | for their employees through higher federal taxes.
Oppose Do you… Favor
54
38
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
34
President’s Plan: Paying for this reform by raising $600 billion Health in new taxes and cutting $400 billion dollars from dollars Care Favor | Obama Plan Medicare & Medicaid.
Oppose Do you… Favor
71
19
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Somewhat Favor
Strongly Favor
35
Breakdown: Cuts To Medicare & Medicaid
Party Affiliation/Ticketsplitters
36
In addition to the trillion dollar stimulus package, the $700 billion dollar corporate and auto company bailout, and the $3.5 trillion dollar budget, the president now says that his $1.5 trillion dollar health care reform plan will not increase the national debt. Knowing this, please tell me which of the following statements come closest to your opinion.
I believe President Obama when he says that his $1.5 trillion dollar health care reform plan will not increase the national debt.
OR
I do not believe President Obama when he says that his $1.5 trillion dollar health care reform plan will not increase the national debt.
37
As you may know, President Obama and the Democrats in congress are rushing to pass a $3.5 trillion dollar budget, bailouts for corporations, a national energy tax, confirmation of a new supreme court nominee, and now they say we should pass extensive health care reform all within the next few months. With this in mind, please tell me which of the following comes closest to your opinion?
Some people say considering how quickly President Obama and congress passed the trillion dollar stimulus package they should take time to evaluate all the options before rushing to pass comprehensive health care reform.
OR
Other people say the health care system is broken and needs to be fixed now. They say President Obama and congress should move quickly to pass comprehensive health care reform.
38
Breakdown: Take Time Or Broken / Fix Now?
Party Affiliation/Ticketsplitters
39
Crucial Strategic Takeaways…
Overwhelming Majority Wants HC Reform Out Of Position…Must Be For Reform Consumer Cost, Not Access, Is The Driver Government Control Unacceptable The Party That Harms Quality Loses
40
Crucial Strategic Takeaways…
Price Tag For Government Plan Unacceptable Strong Resistance To Tax Increases Voters Demand Control Of Their HC
41
Obama’s PR…
Republicans Against HC Reform HC Reform Will Be Budget Neutral Public Plan = Fair Competition Public Plan = Reduced HC Costs “If You Like Your Plan You Can Keep It” If Obama Is Allowed To Sell This… He Wins
42
Republicans Should Pursue Policies That…
Reduce & Control Individual Costs Protect The Doctor Patient Relationship Preserve & Improve Quality & Choice End Lawsuit Abuse In Order To Reduce Costs To Consumers Responsibly Reform Without Further Bankrupting The Country
43
Republicans Should Oppose:
Decline In Quality Of Care -- Government Controlled Health Care Tax Hikes To Pay For Obama’s Risky & Expensive Plan Cutting Medicare & Medicaid To Pay For Obama’s Risky & Expensive Plan More Debt & More Spending Which Will Prolong The Recession
44
Republicans Should Oppose:
Rushing Another Flawed Bill That Will Cost Trillions…& Hurt Your Health Care Government Deciding What Treatments You Can Have Fining Small Businesses In This Time Of Unprecedented Unemployment “Public Plan” – First Step Of Government Takeover Of Health Care
45