Half of Americans with Individually-Purchased Health Insurance Agree Employers Should Not be Required to Provide Employee Health Insurance
Access to doctors, hospitals and services most important aspect when thinking about health insurance
New York, N.Y. - June 27, 2012 - As the Supreme Court readies for its ruling on the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sometimes referred to as "Obamacare", Americans have different opinions on components of the law, depending on the type of health insurance they currently have. Specifically, over half of U.S. adults who have purchased health insurance individually (54%) think employers should not be required to provide employee health insurance compared to only 28% of Americans with employer-sponsored insurance who think this. Additionally, over half of those with individual health insurance (55%) think the government should play a role in assuring access to health insurance, compared to almost two-thirds of Americans with employer-sponsored coverage (64%).
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,208 U.S. adults (ages 18 and over) surveyed online between June 12 and 14, 2012 by Harris Interactive.
Two thirds of Americans (66%) agree that having health insurance should be a personal choice, so there may be some general disapproval of the ACA's individual mandate. However, Americans do agree with some of the ACA's other provisions. For example, over four in five U.S. adults agree that neither children nor adults should be denied health insurance if they have a pre-existing condition (83%) and nearly three-quarters of Americans agree that tax credits should be offered to individuals if they purchase their own health insurance (74%).
However, when looking at the data by the type of insurance respondents currently have, some distinct differences can be seen. Interestingly, among those that have individual coverage, almost half (46%) agree that all people do not need to be covered by health insurance, compared to 30% among those with employer-sponsored coverage and 36% among those that have no insurance at all. Those with individual insurance are also slightly less likely to agree (79%) that adults and children with pre-existing coverage should not be denied coverage, compared to those with employer-sponsored plans (86% adults; 85% children) and Medicare (82% adults; 83% children).
How important 11 aspects of health insurance are
When asked to rate how importance 11 different aspects of health insurance are, over nine in ten Americans say access to the doctors, hospitals and services they need is important (91%) while nine in ten say coverage for prescriptions (90%) and availability of insurance if they have a pre-existing condition (90%) are important. Those who have employer sponsored health insurance are more likely than those with insurance they have purchased themselves to say each of the 11 aspects is important when it comes to health insurance. Some of the larger differences are seen when looking at coverage for prescriptions (95% vs. 76%), coverage for preventative care (93% vs. 74%), and coverage for wellness programs (84% vs. 65%).
Additionally, when asked which two things are most important when it comes to health insurance, one aspect rises to the top - two in five Americans say one of the two most important aspects is access to the doctors, hospitals and services they need (39%). The next three are financial as about one-quarter of U.S. adults say financial protection from major health crises (27%), lower out of pocket costs (26%), and low premiums (24%) are most important.
So What?
"The importance of health insurance to the American consumer cannot be understated regardless of the opinion issued by the Supreme Court," said Debra Richman, Senior Vice President of Healthcare Business Development & Strategy at Harris Interactive. "This is especially true for consumers who individually purchase health insurance plans, a market of growing significance to health insurers. It will be imperative for health insurers to increase their focus on how those in the individual market 'consume' health insurance, including what plan features they prefer, and what they will and conversely will not choose to buy. Financial protection from major health crises, access to providers, convenience, and quality will be key factors as individual health consumers make purchasing decisions, despite how the Supreme Court rules on the individual coverage mandate."
TABLE 1
AMERICANS AND HEALTH INSURANCE
"How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?"
Base: All adults
| |
AGREE
(NET)
|
Strongly
Agree
|
Somewhat
Agree
|
DISAGREE
(NET)
|
Somewhat
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Not at all
sure
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Children with a pre-existing condition should not be denied coverage by a health insurance company
|
83
|
68
|
15
|
12
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
|
Adults with a pre-existing condition should not be denied coverage by a health insurance company
|
83
|
63
|
19
|
13
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
|
If an individual purchases his/her own health insurance, they should receive a tax credit
|
74
|
47
|
27
|
17
|
8
|
9
|
9
|
|
If employers are not required to provide health insurance, those that do offer it should receive a tax credit
|
73
|
40
|
32
|
19
|
11
|
8
|
9
|
|
If a person doesn't want health insurance, it should be his/her prerogative
|
66
|
41
|
25
|
28
|
15
|
13
|
6
|
|
The government should play a role in assuring access to health insurance
|
65
|
35
|
30
|
30
|
12
|
18
|
6
|
|
All people do not need to be covered by health insurance
|
33
|
12
|
21
|
61
|
23
|
38
|
6
|
|
Employers should not be required to provide health insurance to employees
|
32
|
15
|
17
|
62
|
27
|
36
|
6
|
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 2
AMERICANS AND HEALTH INSURANCE - By Type of Insurance
"How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?"
Percent saying "Strongly/Somewhat Agree"
Base: All adults
| |
Total
|
Type of Health Insurance
|
|
Employer
Sponsored
|
Individually
Purchased
|
Medicare
|
Medicaid
|
No
insurance
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Children with a pre-existing condition should not be denied coverage by a health insurance company
|
83
|
85
|
79
|
83
|
76
|
81
|
|
Adults with a pre-existing condition should not be denied coverage by a health insurance company
|
83
|
86
|
79
|
82
|
83
|
77
|
|
If an individual purchases his/her own health insurance, they should receive a tax credit
|
74
|
77
|
75
|
72
|
58
|
73
|
|
If employers are not required to provide health insurance, those that do offer it should receive a tax credit
|
73
|
77
|
71
|
75
|
56
|
64
|
|
If a person doesn't want health insurance, it should be his/her prerogative
|
66
|
66
|
69
|
60
|
71
|
68
|
|
The government should play a role in assuring access to health insurance
|
65
|
64
|
55
|
64
|
70
|
70
|
|
All people do not need to be covered by health insurance
|
33
|
30
|
46
|
31
|
36
|
36
|
|
Employers should not be required to provide health insurance to employees
|
32
|
28
|
54
|
31
|
34
|
31
|
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 3
IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH INSURANCE SPECIFICS
"When it comes to health insurance, how important are each of the following to you?"
Base: All adults
| |
IMPORTANT
(NET)
|
Very
Important
|
Somewhat
Important
|
NOT
IMPORTANT
(NET)
|
Not that Important
|
Not at all Important
|
Not at all
sure
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Access to the doctors, hospitals and services I need
|
91
|
79
|
12
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
|
Coverage for prescriptions
|
90
|
72
|
18
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
|
Availability of health insurance if I have a pre-existing condition
|
90
|
71
|
19
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
|
Lower out of pocket costs
|
89
|
66
|
24
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
4
|
|
Financial protection from major health crises
|
89
|
72
|
17
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
|
Low premiums
|
89
|
63
|
25
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
5
|
|
Coverage for preventative care
|
87
|
65
|
22
|
9
|
6
|
3
|
4
|
|
High customer service from my health insurance company
|
86
|
58
|
28
|
9
|
6
|
3
|
5
|
|
Availability of health insurance for my family and dependents
|
85
|
69
|
16
|
10
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
|
Availability of health insurance if I lose or change jobs
|
85
|
66
|
19
|
10
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
|
Coverage for wellness programs
|
82
|
54
|
28
|
14
|
10
|
4
|
4
|
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 4
IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH INSURANCE SPECIFICS - By Type of Health Insurance
"When it comes to health insurance, how important are each of the following to you?"
Percent saying "Very/Somewhat Important"
Base: All adults
| |
TOTAL
|
Type of Health Insurance
|
|
Employer
Sponsored
|
Individually
Purchased
|
Medicare
|
Medicaid
|
No
insurance
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Access to the doctors, hospitals and services I need
|
91
|
97
|
87
|
90
|
87
|
83
|
|
Coverage for prescriptions
|
90
|
95
|
76
|
88
|
88
|
85
|
|
Availability of health insurance if I have a pre-existing condition
|
90
|
94
|
83
|
89
|
83
|
84
|
|
Lower out of pocket costs
|
89
|
94
|
80
|
88
|
85
|
85
|
|
Financial protection from major health crises
|
89
|
93
|
88
|
89
|
78
|
80
|
|
Low premiums
|
89
|
94
|
83
|
87
|
78
|
82
|
|
Coverage for preventative care
|
87
|
93
|
74
|
89
|
75
|
82
|
|
High customer service from my health insurance company
|
86
|
91
|
78
|
88
|
79
|
76
|
|
Availability of health insurance for my family and dependents
|
85
|
90
|
75
|
86
|
78
|
81
|
|
Availability of health insurance if I lose or change jobs
|
85
|
93
|
76
|
79
|
78
|
80
|
|
Coverage for wellness programs
|
82
|
84
|
65
|
84
|
85
|
80
|
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 4
MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF HEALTH INSURANCE
"When thinking about health insurance, which two of the following are most important to you?"
Base: Said at least one component was important
| |
TOTAL
|
Type of Health Insurance
|
|
Employer
Sponsored
|
Individually
Purchased
|
Medicare
|
Medicaid
|
No
insurance
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Access to the doctors, hospitals and services I need
|
39
|
38
|
33
|
49
|
36
|
30
|
|
Financial protection from major health crises
|
27
|
28
|
33
|
36
|
7
|
17
|
|
Lower out of pocket costs
|
26
|
27
|
21
|
19
|
24
|
32
|
|
Low premiums
|
24
|
23
|
32
|
17
|
12
|
32
|
|
Coverage for prescriptions
|
23
|
22
|
21
|
28
|
33
|
17
|
|
Availability of health insurance for my family and dependents
|
22
|
27
|
19
|
14
|
26
|
20
|
|
Availability of health insurance if I have a pre-existing condition
|
16
|
13
|
24
|
16
|
10
|
20
|
|
Availability of health insurance if I lose or change jobs
|
10
|
11
|
8
|
6
|
9
|
16
|
|
Coverage for preventative care
|
9
|
8
|
4
|
7
|
16
|
11
|
|
High customer service from my health insurance company
|
4
|
2
|
9
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
|
Coverage for wellness programs
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
13
|
4
|
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 5
TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE AMERICANS HAVE
"What type of health insurance do you currently have?"
Base: All adults
| |
TOTAL
|
|
| |
|
%
|
|
|
An employer sponsored health insurance policy
|
46
|
|
|
Medicare plan
|
22
|
|
|
An individually purchased health insurance policy
|
9
|
|
|
Medicaid
|
5
|
|
|
I don't have health insurance
|
18
|
|
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between June 12 and 14, 2012 among 2,208 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.
The Harris Poll ® #47, June 27, 2012
About Harris Interactive
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