Kaiser Health Poll Report: Source: Health Care Priorities: August 2005 (3)

Kaiser Health Poll Report Survey [August, 2005]

Now I'm going to read you some different health care issues. As I read each one, please tell me how important you think it is for the President and Congress to deal with this issue—very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important. (First,) How important is this issue… (INSERT ITEM, READ & RANDOMIZE)?

Very imp.
Somewhat imp.
Not too imp.
Not at all imp.
DK/ Ref.
a. Increasing the number of Americans covered by health insurance
81
14
2
2
2
b. Reforming the medical malpractice system
54
29
7
4
6
c. Lowering the cost of prescription drugs
81
14
2
2
1
d. Lowering the cost of health insurance
84
12
2
2
1
e. Reducing medical errors or mistakes
75
18
4
2
2
f. Assuring the smooth implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit
55
26
5
4
11
g. Reforming the Medicaid system
56
26
5
2
10

Q2.1 Which of the following issues you say are very important do you think is MOST important?

26
Increasing the number of Americans covered by health insurance
25
Lowering the cost of health insurance
15
Lowering the cost of prescription drugs
8
Reducing medical errors or mistakes
7
Reforming the Medicaid system
6
Reforming the medical malpractice system
2
Assuring the smooth implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit
*
(VOL.) Other issue is most important
9
(VOL.) All the same/equally important
1
(DO NOT READ) Don’t know/Refused
1
None very important

Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Methodology: A nationally representative sample of 1,205 adults ages 18 and older was interviewed by telephone by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 4 and August 8, 2005.