Briefing Resource List-20000418-briefingresourcesapril_-doc

Published: Apr 1, 2000

Briefing Resource List

The Gender of Politics:How (and How Much) Will Women Influence Election 2000?Tuesday, April 18, 2000Briefing ParticipantsOther ResourcesAnalysts and ResearchersPollstersWomen’s Political OrganizationsVoter Education/InformationAdditional Voter Education WebsitesNational Political PartiesPolitical Analysts/StrategistsEmerging Issues in Reproductive Health, Program Contacts

Briefing Participants

    Mollyann Brodie, PhD, Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Media ResearchTina Hoff, Director, Public Health Information and CommunicationsHenry J. Kaiser Family Foundation2400 Sand Hill RoadMenlo Park, CA 94025Press contact: Amy WeitzTel. 650.854.9400Fax. 650.854.7465E-mail: aweitz@kff.orgWebsite: www.kff.org

    Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, JDCEO and President The Polling Company1220 Connecticut Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20036 Press contact: Maria RauchTel. 202.667.6557Fax. 202.467.6551E-mail: info@pollingcompany.com

    Anna Greenberg, PhDAssistant Professor of Public PolicyJohn F. Kennedy School of GovernmentHarvard University79 JFK StreetCambridge, MA 02138Tel. 617.495.8343Fax. 617.495.8696E-mail: anna_greenberg@harvard.edu

    Timothy F. MooneyVice President, Political AffairsVoter.com400 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite G-100Washington, DC 20001Press contact: Keith AppellTel. 703.683.5004, ext.112Fax. 703.683.1703E-mail: keith@crc4pr.comWebsite: www.voter.com

    Sheila O’ConnellPolitical DirectorEMILY’s List805 15th Street, NW, Suite 400Washington, DC 20005Press contact: Elizabeth PineTel. 202.326.1400Fax. 202.326.1415E-mail: epine@emilyslist.org Website: www.emilyslist.org

Other Resources

More On
HIV/AIDS Women's Health Policy Adolescents Reproductive Health Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Also of Interest

Health Coverage and Access:  Policy Issues For Women

Published: Mar 31, 2000

Health Coverage and Access: Policy Issues For Women

This chartpack provides briefing materials that review the key health coverage and access concerns facing American women. Issues that are addressed include women’s role in the health system, insurance coverage and access to care, managed care, contraceptive coverage, Medicare reform, and assistance with long-term care.

More On
Uninsured Women's Health Policy Access to Care Coverage

Also of Interest

Public Service Ads to Help Disadvantaged Youth Bridge the Digital Divide

Published: Mar 31, 2000

The Kaiser Family Foundation announced that it will create television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at connecting disadvantaged youth with technology resources and training. The PSAs, along with a coordinated effort to develop a national database of youth-oriented community technology centers, were announced at an East Palo Alto event on April 17th hosted by President Clinton.

More On
Other Health

Also of Interest

Medicaid Enrollment in 21 States: June 1997 – June 1999

Published: Mar 31, 2000

This report, Medicaid Enrollment in 21 States: June 1997 -June 1999, prepared by Health Management Associates, includes enrollment data obtained directly from state Medicaid and CHIP programs. Findings show that across the 21 states, which represent 73% of total Medicaid enrollment, enrollment fell from 23.2 million in June 1997 to 22.6 million in June 1998, but turned upward in June 1999 to 22.9 million. State-by-state data is included for: Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Ilinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

More On
Medicaid Uninsured Access to Care Coverage Managed Care

DOWNLOAD

REPORT Download

Also of Interest

New Medicaid Data from 21 States Find Recent Enrollment Increases

Published: Mar 31, 2000

New data prepared for the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured released April 12 find recent Medicaid enrollment increases in more than half of the 21 states surveyed. A companion report describes survey results on ways states are trying to simplify the enrollment process.

More On
Medicaid

Also of Interest

The Federal Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Published: Mar 30, 2000
More On
HIV/AIDS

Also of Interest

Public Health in a Changing Health Care System: Linkages Between Public Health and MCOs In the Treatment and Prevention of STDs

Published: Mar 30, 2000

Public health agencies and managed care organizations share responsibility for the health of the populations they serve. Their relationships are particularly important in the area of STDs. This study analyzes the evolving relationships between managed care organizations and public health agencies in how they manage the prevention, treatment, and tracking of STDs.

More On
Health Costs HIV/AIDS Medicaid Uninsured Women's Health Policy Adolescents Coverage Managed Care Reproductive Health Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Also of Interest

The Public Opinion Update on The Uninsured

Published: Mar 30, 2000

Kaiser Public Opinion Update, April 2000

summarizes key findings from past surveys on the uninsured conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health and a new survey conducted by the Foundation in conjunction with The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. The surveys show that the public is concerned about the problem of the uninsured, but that solutions remain elusive because of the lack of public consensus on the best approach and the lack of willingness to pay for solutions.

More On
Health Costs Medicaid Public Opinion Uninsured Access to Care Coverage Low Income

Also of Interest

Agenda-20000418-Agendaapril_-doc

Published: Mar 30, 2000

class=normal>

The Gender of Politics:How (And How Much) Will Women Influence Election 2000?

Tuesday, April 18th9:30 am – 11:15 amBroadway Millennium Hotel44th and Broadway, New York City

9:30 am Registration

9:40 am Welcome/Introductions

    Tina Hoff, Director of Public Health Information and Communications, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

9:45 am The Gender of Politics: How (And How Much) Will Women Influence Election 2000?

Who Is the “Woman Voter?” What Issues Does “She” Care About?

  • Mollyann Brodie, PhD, Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Media Research, Kaiser Family Foundation, will give an overview of how pollsters identify “women voters” and the issues women care about this year, including health care.

Election 2000 Predictions: What Do Women Want? How Will They Get It?

  • Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, CEO and President, The Polling Company, has advised Republican candidates including Jack Kemp, Newt Gingrich, and former Vice President Dan Quayle. She has served as a political analyst for CNN and appears as a commentator on ABC’s Good Morning America, Fox News, and MSNBC. Her corporate clients include Philip Morris, The Wall Street Journal, and Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories.
  • Anna Greenberg, PhD, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, is working on a long-term research project on gender and politics and consulting to iVillage.com on its election-related polling.

Where Are the Women Candidates? What Happened to “Women’s Issues?” And What About Abortion?

  • Kelli Conlin, Executive Director, NARAL/New York, will discuss the current crop of women candidates; whether female officeholders are “better” for women; and the findings of her group’s “women’s monitor.”

Voter Education and Outreach: How Can You Learn More About the Issues? The Candidates?

  • Timothy F. Mooney, Vice President, Political Affairs, Voter.com, will talk about the range of places voters can go for more information about issues and the candidates. He will also discuss new voter education and outreach efforts.

11:00 am Discussion and Q & A

More On
HIV/AIDS Women's Health Policy Adolescents Reproductive Health Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Also of Interest

Public Opinion Update-3006-Public-Opinion-Update

Published: Mar 30, 2000

Public Opinion Update

Public Opinion Update

Public Opinion Update

THE UNINSURED

The debate over how to expand health insurance coverage to the over 44 million Americans without it continues to be one of the most challenging issues facing policymakers today. This Public Opinion Update summarizes key findings from several surveys conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health and a new survey conducted by the Foundation in conjunction with the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. The surveys show that the public is concerned about the problem of the uninsured, but that solutions remain elusive because of a lack of public consensus on the best approach and the unwillingness of a sizeable part of the public to pay for solutions.

THE PUBLIC IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM

In a recent survey, 28% of registered voters cited health care as a top issue influencing their vote. Which health care issues are most on the public s mind? Several concerns are closely bunched. Nearly half (47%) of Americans say providing insurance coverage for people who are currently uninsured will be “very important” in deciding their vote for President in 2000, and an additional 33% say the issue will be “somewhat important.” Slightly more people ranked making Medicare financially sound (52%) and providing coverage for prescription medicines for the elderly (51%) as “very important.” (Figure 1)

Image16.gif

Concern over insurance coverage also exists on a personal level. In January, 2000, more than half (53%) of the public reported that they personally knew someone who doesn’t have health insurance, and 57% of insured Americans said they were “very” or “somewhat concerned” that they might not have health insurance for others in their family.

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE UNINSURED

The majority of Americans (60%) realize that the number of Americans without health insurance has been increasing, but the public s knowledge about who the uninsured are is limited. The majority of the public (57%) incorrectly say that more of the uninsured are unemployed or from families where people are unemployed (39%) (Figure 2). There has been little improvement in public knowledge. In 1996, half the public (50%) incorrectly believed that the uninsured are more likely to come from unemployed families.

Image12.gif

On the other hand, Americans recognize many, though not all, of the troubles the uninsured have getting care and the potential health consequences the uninsured face as a result. Around 7 in 10 Americans know that the uninsured are less likely than the insured to have had a recent physician visit (74%) or to have a regular source where they get medical care (68%), and 65% of Americans know the uninsured are more likely than the insured to put off or postpone seeking medical care. More than 6 in 10 Americans know that the uninsured are less likely than the insured to get needed medical care (64%) or use preventive health services (62%). However, over half of Americans (52%) do not realize that the uninsured are more likely than the insured to have hospital or emergency room visits for basic care.

POLICY PREFERENCES

While the public supports action to extend coverage, there is little agreement on how to solve the problem. In January 2000, only 11% of the public said that the government should keep things the way they are now rather than do something to help people who don’t have health insurance. However, Americans are divided between whether the government should make “a limited effort to provide health insurance for some of the uninsured which would not require a tax increase” (43%) or “a major effort to provide health insurance for nearly all uninsured Americans which would require a tax increase” (39%).

A majority of Americans favor the status quo when asked to chose between maintaining the current employment based health insurance system, or switching to a system of tax credits or subsidies for individuals. The majority (54%) favor building on the current system in which employers contribute to their employees health insurance and the government covers the cost of insurance for the poor and unemployed, but 39% favor switching to a system in which all individuals would buy their own health insurance but would receive a tax credit or subsidy.

While the public expresses a high level of support for a broad range of policy options that would provide insurance for the uninsured, with over half of Americans favoring all but one option (Table 1), when asked to choose the best option, no single one attracts widespread support.

TABLE 1

Percent Who Favor When Asked about Each Option

Percent Who Chose It When Forced to Pick the Best Option

Expanding state government programs for low-income people, such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, to provide coverage for people without health insurance

78

21

A new law that would require businesses to offer private health insurance for their employees

77

21

A new law that would offer uninsured Americans income tax deductions, tax credits, or other financial assistance to help them purchase private health insurance on their own

74

20

Expanding Medicare to cover people under age 65 who do not have health insurance

67

14

A national health plan, financed by taxpayers, in which all Americans would get their insurance from a single government plan

44

21

Source: NewsHour with Jim Lehrer/Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey on the Uninsured, 2000

WILLINGNESS TO PAY

Willingness to pay remains one of the toughest obstacles to providing insurance coverage for the uninsured. Fifty-three percent of Americans say they are willing to pay a substantial amount more per month in higher premiums or taxes to cover the uninsured (41% were willing to pay $50 per month more and another 12% were willing to pay $30). However, 46% were willing to pay only $5 a month more (26%) or not willing to pay anything more (20%).

Image15.gif

Foundation surveys over several years show that the public has remained closely divided in their willingness to pay. In 1993, 50% said they would support a 3% national sales tax on purchases to pay for health coverage for the uninsured, but 40% said they would oppose such a tax. Similarly, in 1996, 47% of Americans said they were willing to pay more in health insurance premiums or higher taxes to increase the number of Americans with health care coverage, but 47% said they were not willing to pay. The unwillingness to pay more by a sizeable share of the public continues to present an obstacle to comprehensive solutions and suggests that incremental approaches will continue to be favored.

FACTS ABOUT THE UNINSURED

  • Over 44 million Americans are uninsured over 18% of the total nonelderly population.
  • The uninsured are predominantly workers and their families, many of whom have low incomes. Over 8 in 10 uninsured Americans are workers or dependents of workers. The large majority (74%) of the uninsured are in families with at least one full-time worker, and most of these workers are in permanent positions.
  • Over half (59%) of uninsured Americans have been without insurance for more than two years.
  • Over half of the uninsured (56%) have low incomes, making less than 200% of the federal poverty level ($32,900 for a family of four in 1998).
  • While the majority (52%) of the uninsured are White, Hispanics (25%) and African Americans (17%) are over-represented among the uninsured population.
  • Over one-third (39%) of uninsured adults say they have postponed care in the past year 12% for a “very serious” condition because they could not afford it. Eighteen percent of uninsured adults say they had a health condition that got worse because they postponed seeking care.
  • Thirty-nine percent of the uninsured skipped a recommended medical test or treatment in the last year, and 30% did not fill a prescription because of the cost.
  • The uninsured also face greater financial burdens than the insured, for example, the uninsured are more likely than the insured to have been contacted by a collection agency about unpaid medical bills (39% vs. 27%).

Source: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured

Unless otherwise noted, trends used in this Public Opinion Update are from the following surveys conducted by the Kaiser/Harvard School of Public Health Program on The Public and Health Policy; a joint program of the Kaiser Family Foundation and Dr. Robert Blendon and his research team from the Harvard School of Public Health: November, 1991, Survey of Voters in the Pennsylvania Senate Election (11/91); June, 1996, Survey of Americans on Health Policy (#1166) (7/96); November, 1996, Post-Election Survey of Voters 1997 Health Care Agenda (#1216) (1/97); November, 1998, Post-Election Survey: Priorities for the 106th Congress (#1452) (1/99); November, 1999, National Survey on Health Care and the 2000 Elections (#1572) (1/00). Other surveys include the January, 2000 NewsHour with Jim Lehrer/Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey on the Uninsured (#3013) (4/00). For more information on the uninsured and analysis of policy proposals to cover them, or for complete question wordings, margins of error or other analysis, please contact us or look for our information on the web at http://www.kff.org. To request additional free copies of this publication, contact our Publications Request Line at 1-800-656-4533 (ask for document #3006).

Image7.gif

2400 Sand Hill Road Menlo Park, California 94025 650/854-9400 Fax 650/854-4800 Website: http://www.kff.org

More On
Health Costs Medicaid Public Opinion Uninsured Access to Care Coverage Low Income

Also of Interest