Americans are reasonably happy with their health care and the insurance that pays for it and are not worried that some event, such as losing a job, will interfere with their access to doctors or hospitals, according to a poll taken Oct. 29-Nov. 9 for The Associated Press.
Overall, though, they are slightly more concerned about the economy than health care, with 91 percent rating the economy as extremely or very important, and 81 percent rating health care as extremely or very important.
Eighty-six percent of those surveyed favor making sure all Americans get the health care they need. But when the questions include a mention that such coverage would likely result in higher health insurance premiums, the numbers change.
Forty-three percent would favor a law barring insurance companies from refusing coverage to someone who has a pre-existing condition, and 57 percent say they would support prohibiting insurance companies from refusing to renew coverage for people with a serious illness.
But they are evenly divided on their opinion toward President Obama's approach to the health care issue, with 47 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving.
Fifty-one percent of the poll's respondents say the health care coverage most Americans now have is excellent or good.
The poll found strong agreement for changing the health care system with the goal of reducing costs. Seventy-four percent support reducing the money patients and insurance companies pay for health care, and 77 percent supported changes to reduce the amount of money people and companies pay for health insurance.
The poll was based on telephone interviews with 1,502 adults nationwide and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. The poll was financed by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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