Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University National Survey of Americans’ Views on Consumer Protection in Managed Care

Kaiser/Harvard National Survey of Americans’ Views On Consumer Protection In Managed Care

33. Earlier in this interview, you said you oppose a law requiring health plans to…(Insert–Read And Rotate). Would you still be opposed if health plans could decide for themselves whether to follow this practice, rather than be required by law? (Record Response) You also said you oppose a law requiring health plans to…(Insert Next Item) Would you still be opposed if health plans could decide for themselves whether to follow this practice, rather than be required by law?

a. Provide information about the plan

94 Total would favor 91 Favor initially 3 Switched to favor 3 Would still oppose 3 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

b. Allow a woman to see a gynecologist without special permission

88 Total would favor 81 Favor initially 7 Switched to favor 8 Would still oppose 4 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

c. Allow people to see a medical specialist without special permission

88 Total would favor 81 Favor initially 7 Switched to favor 10 Would still oppose 2 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

d. Pay for an emergency room visit if someone believes they need immediate medical attention

88 Total would favor 79 Favor initially 9 Switched to favor 8 Would still oppose 4 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

e. Allow people to appeal a plan’s decision to deny coverage to an independent reviewer

92 Total would favor 88 Favor initially 4 Switched to favor 5 Would still oppose 3 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

f. Allow patients to sue a plan for malpractice

74 Total would favor 64 Favor initially 10 Switched to favor 19 Would still oppose 7 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

34. Some people think new laws are needed to stop health plans from using “gag rules” that keep doctors from talking with patients about how a plan’s rules could affect their treatment. Others think health plans should be able to set these kind of rules without government interference. Which comes closer to your view?

57 Need new laws 37 Plans should be able to set rules 6 Don’t know 100 &nbsp

35. Some people favor establishing an independent regulatory agency to make sure people are treated fairly and get the care they need from their health plans, similar to the S-E-C, which oversees financial trading, and the F-A-A, which oversees airline safety. Others say setting up a new regulatory agency would expand government’s role in health care too much and increase health care costs for everyone. Which comes closer to your view?

51 Favor establishing new regulatory agency 43 Would expand government’s role too much and increase h.c. costs 6 Don’t know 100 &nbsp

36. Now, I have a few more questions about your own health insurance plan and how it works… Some plans charge less if you choose your doctor from a list, but make you pay more if you go to a doctor not on the list. Does your plan work this way, or not?

“Total” Based on all who are insured; n=994”18-64” Based on all under 65 who are insured; n=218

Total 18-64 &nbsp 54 62 Yes 39 32 No 7 6 Don’t know 100 100 &nbsp

37. Some plans require you to sign up with a specific primary care doctor or group of doctors who provide all your routine health care. Does your plan work this way, or not?

“Total” Based on all who are insured; n=994”18-64” Based on all under 65 who are insured; n=218

Total 18-64 &nbsp 50 55 Yes 47 43 No 3 2 Don’t know 100 100 &nbsp

38. Some plans require you to have approval or a referral before they will pay for any of your costs for visiting a doctor who is not in the plan. Does your plan work this way, or not?

“Total” Based on all who are insured; n=994”18-64” Based on all under 65 who are insured; n=218

Total 18-64 &nbsp 48 54 Yes 44 39 No 8 7 Don’t know 100 100 &nbsp

39. Some plans require you to have a referral by a primary care doctor before you can see a medical specialist. Does your plan work this way, or not?

“Total” Based on all who are insured; n=994”18-64” Based on all under 64 who are insured; n=218

Total 18-64 &nbsp 52 58 Yes 40 35 No 8 7 Don’t know 100 100 &nbsp

40. Are you Now covered by a private health insurance plan through your employer or someone else’s employer, or don’t you have health coverage through an employer?

Based on all who are insured; n=994

53 Yes, through own employer/former employer 19 Yes, through someone else’s employer/former employer 26 No, not through an employer 2 Self-employed, coverage through own company’s plan (Vol.) * Don’t know 100 &nbsp

41. Would you favor or oppose a law requiring employers who offer health coverage to give their workers a choice of at least two health plans?

80 Favor 17 Oppose 3 Don’t know 100 &nbsp

42. Would you still favor this law if you heard that…

a. It might increase the cost of health coverage and cause some employers to drop coverage for their workers?

32 Would still favor 63 Total would oppose 17 Oppose initially 46 Switched to oppose 5 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

b. It might get the government too involved in health care?

48 Would still favor 46 Total would oppose 17 Oppose initially 29 Switched to oppose 6 Don’t Know 100 &nbsp

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Kaiser/Harvard National Survey of Americans’ Views On Consumer Protection In Managed Care
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