Bipartisan Survey Reveals Health Care Critical to Voters in 2008 Election
Issue Ranks Second to Economy and is Top Personal Concern; Fighting Chronic Disease Ranked #1 Way to Improve Health Care
Washington, D.C. -- A nationwide survey released today found health care is a top issue for likely voters, men and women alike, in the lead-up to the 2008 presidential election and that this issue will factor heavily in their votes this November. The survey, which evaluated top issues just weeks before the election, revealed that concerns about the cost of health care loom large.
The nationwide survey, which was sponsored by the non-partisan Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, sampled 1,500 likely voters on October 5-9, 2008; it showed that while the economy is top of mind, health care is a strong second, with ties to fears about economic security:
- Six in ten respondents (58%) say health care is “the major issue” or “one of the major issues” influencing their voting decision this November, including two-thirds (62%) of women and more than half (54%) of men.
- One quarter of respondents (26%), and more than one in four women (28%), rank health care (including Medicare) as one of their top two “most important” issues in the election.
- Health care is a top concern for swing voters: 64 percent of women and 56 percent of men who identify themselves as independents say it is “the major issue” or “one of the major issues” influencing their vote.
"After the economy, health care is the issue that voters want to hear about most," said Celinda Lake, prominent Democratic pollster and president of Lake Research Partners. "Given the importance of these voters, the presidential candidates would be wise to spend more time talking about health care in the run-up to November 4th."
Health care is the single most serious concern for likely voters in their own lives. The high and rising cost of health care was identified as a top priority and an area in need of improvement by a majority of respondents.
- When asked what problem they personally worry about most for their family, health care garnered the most mentions, with 21 percent of respondents saying it is their top concern. Economic concerns, such as “the rising cost of gas and food” came in a close second, with mention from 19 percent of respondents.
- Worries about cost may be fueled by past experience. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents said their out-of-pocket spending on health care has risen over the past five years.
- When asked about whether they’d prefer that candidates focus on improving the cost, quality, or accessibility of health care, nearly two in five (38%) said something should be done to improve cost; another third (32%) favored improving access, while only 18 percent favored improving quality. While men favored improving cost to improving access (41% versus 32%), women were more equally divided in their response (36% versus 32%).
"For many Americans, health care is an economic issue, and the slowing economy and concern about health care are inextricably linked," said Brenda Wigger, a leading Republican pollster and vice president of Voter/Consumer Research, Inc. "For millions of Americans, the current economic instability has heightened fears about their ability to pay for and access health care, so it’s little surprise that the cost of care is the top concern."
When asked about what would make the most difference to improving health care in the U.S., respondents identified fighting chronic illness as the approach that offers the most promise.
- More than two-thirds (69%) of respondents said "catching and treating chronic diseases early" is the best way to improve the nation’s health care.
- Six in ten respondents (58%) said they are "very concerned" that chronic diseases are "a major driver of health care costs -- accounting for more than 75 cents of every dollar we spend on health care in this country."
- Yet, six in ten (60%) noted that candidates are not addressing the issue much or at all.
"Americans are looking to their next president to bring forward new ideas to improve health care," said Ken Thorpe, executive director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. "As this survey tells us, Americans believe that fighting chronic disease is the best way to do this. It is my hope that the candidates will use the time before the election wisely by telling Americans more about how they plan to address this important issue."
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Full results are available at: www.fightchronicdisease.org.
About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD)
The PFCD is a national coalition of more than 110 patient, provider, and community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: rising rates of preventable and treatable chronic diseases. Please visit our Web site at www.fightchronicdisease.org
About Lake Research Partners
Lake Research Partners is a national public opinion and political strategy research firm. Our principals are among the Democratic Party's leading strategists, serving as tacticians and senior advisors to dozens of incumbents and challengers at all levels of the electoral process, as well as to a wide range of advocacy organizations, non-profit organizations, and foundations. We have nationally recognized expertise on the politics of the women's vote, the youth vote, children as a political issue, and the environmental movement today.
About Voter/Consumer Research
Voter/Consumer Research (V/CR) specializes in issues management for corporations, industry associations, and other for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. V/CR has helped corporate clients understand the concerns of the communities where they operate and develop messages that are heard by both the public and public officials. V/CR has equal expertise and success in providing high quality information to help guide election strategies for political candidates and initiative and referendum campaigns.Based on over 25 years experience in being part of winning campaign teams, V/CR is recognized as a leader in designing effective messages and contributing winning ideas to campaigns.
Read the topline results of the survey »
View a Powerpoint presentation of the results »
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