MIAMI, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Residents of the greater Miami area point to cost as their biggest healthcare concern and find information about the cost and other aspects of health care coverage to be complex and confusing. They are paying close attention to presidential candidates on health care and want more information from the candidates about the bottom line cost for them and for the country. They say the top health care priorities for the candidates should be to provide health insurance to all children, improve prescription drug coverage, and control rising health care costs. Residents also give mixed reviews to the quality of health care in the Miami area, but most are satisfied with their own health care.
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These are just a few of the key findings of a new poll released today as part of "The American Public on Health Care: The Missing Perspective," a project of The Council for Excellence in Government with expert guidance from the Institute of Medicine at the National Academies. The survey -- conducted by the Gallup Organization -- will be a focal point of discussion at a town hall meeting tonight at the University of Miami. The Accenture Institute for Public Service Value is supporting this project and conducting research on international health.
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Cost is the Biggest Health Care Concern
48% of Greater Miami area residents say that cost is their biggest health care concern, versus 37% who say quality and 9% who say being able to get health care. Only 40% are satisfied with their out-of-pocket health care costs, the lowest rating given to any dimension of their health plans.
Greater Miami area residents are more likely to say that information about costs is complex and confusing than most other types of information they have about their health plans (38%). And, when asked about the importance of different factors when choosing a health care plan, cost is just as important, in consumer's minds, as having a good selection of doctors covered under the plan.
Health care is hot on the campaign trail and voters want to know the bottom line. Area residents believe that insuring all children (84%), controlling rising health care costs (76%), improving prescription drug coverage (72%), and improving the quality and safety of medical care (72%) should be top priorities of political candidates. Providing access to health care for non-US citizens (30%) was lowest on the list of priorities for candidates.
70% say that allowing Americans to take their health care with them when they leave a job should be a priority for candidates, including 86% of African Americans and 83% of lower income residents.
Two-thirds say they are paying close attention to candidates' positions on healthcare in the 2008 elections, including 47% who say they are paying very close attention. Miamians think it would be extremely helpful to know from candidates how much their health plans will cost taxpayers (72%), how the plan will help cover the uninsured (67%), how they will pay for their plans (66%), and how their plans will improve the quality of health care (65%).
A Tale of Two Health Care Systems: Ours and Mine.
Miami area residents are generally negative about the quality of health care in the area, yet rate the care they personally receive much higher. 45% say the availability of quality health care in the Miami area is fair (25%) or poor (20%) and only 9% say it is excellent. However, one-fourth rate their care as excellent (25%) and an additional 52% rate it as good. Less than a quarter rate it as fair (16%) or poor (6%).
In addition, 75% of area residents say that access to care for the uninsured is only fair or poor. Nearly the same
