The share of the public that reports it is very worried about health care has changed somewhat over time. Health care worries reached a peak in June 2001, but fell following the events of September 11, 2001, when the public's concerns seemed to shift away from health care toward other matters. Worries about health care rose again between December 2001 and June 2002 and since then have declined slightly. About 3 in 10 are very worried that the amount they pay for health services or insurance would increase (32%) or that their health plan would be more concerned about saving money than about the best treatment (29%).

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Health Poll Report, Health Security Watch, November/December 2003 Edition.