Polls: People like their own insurance but want reform, heart patients' cost worries

Two polls were released about American attitudes about health coverage and costs.

Lancaster Online: "Most Americans who have health insurance are pleased with their coverage, a new national Franklin & Marshall College poll shows. But many of those same people are worried about those who can't afford insurance, and overwhelmingly believe the health care system needs to be reformed, according to a survey of 920 adults. ... The survey found that 75 percent of Americans who have insurance rate their coverage as good or very good — the same percentage who believe the health-care system is in need of reform. ... But they are divided over whether the proposals are good for the country. Those surveyed also were split when asked if they were pleased or displeased that a health care reform bill has not been enacted" (Murse, 2/12).

Philadelphia Daily News: "'There's just too many people satisfied with their health care,' said poll director G. Terry Madonna. 'They want reform for the people who don't have it. On the other hand, they want health-care costs in general to come down, and I don't think they'd be wild about paying more.' ... The question of who has the best ideas for health-care reform prompted basically a three-way tie: 37 percent said President Obama, 33 percent said the Republicans in Congress and 30 percent said they did not know" (Brennan, 2/12).  The telephone survey was conducted Feb. 2-8, with a sampling error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

Reuters: "A survey of heart patients by the American Heart Association shows that [the] cost of insurance premiums and medication is the top concern of heart patients. ... The online survey of 1,105 adults who said they had a heart condition, stroke or high blood pressure showed that 56 percent had trouble paying for prescription drugs or other medical care in the past few years. It was conducted from December 29, 2009 to January 5, 2010. Stroke patients -- 69 percent -- were most likely to report having trouble paying medical bills.

"Almost two thirds of heart patients -- 64 percent -- said making healthcare costs more affordable was a top priority for them. ... The survey was conducted from December 29, 2009 to January 5, 2010 ...  by research firm Synovate [and] had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. It is available at www.americanheart.org/accesstocare" (Smith, 2/11).