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(September 2004) The latest IssuesPA/Pew Poll shows Pennsylvanians have major concerns about health care issues – especially costs – as well as access, quality and medical malpractice.  One in four surveyed said a family member has gone without health care coverage at some point in the last year.

When asked to consider all aspects of health care, 44% of those Pennsylvanians surveyed said health care is getting worse where they live. That’s up from 41% in July of 2002.  Most often cited as the cause are the rising costs of care (37%) and the impact of malpractice lawsuits and insurance costs (20%).

How does health care rank as an issue?

Based on poll results, Pennsylvanians have strong opinions on health care issues. Their increasing concerns about health care costs mirror and exceed growing national concern.  How to address the rising costs of care and insurance is among the leading domestic issues in the November election.

Health care issues are tied with the economy and the situation in Iraq as the issue most important in determining Pennsylvanians’ votes for President in the November election. When asked an open-ended question to name the most important problem facing Pennsylvania today, 12% said health care – behind only jobs (27%) and taxes (13%) – and outranking education, crime, and the economy.

Pennsylvanians surveyed want government to expand its role to ensure that more people have access to health insurance coverage. Though nearly one-quarter of those surveyed opposed an expanded government role in health care, 71% said the government should expand its role – 24% of Pennsylvanians polled said a universal health insurance system under a government-run program is the way to go; 45% prefer a mixed system where employers are offered tax breaks as incentive to provide health insurance for more workers and their families and government provides access to health insurance for those left without any coverage. 

What tops the list of health care concerns?

Costs! When asked what’s most responsible for driving up the costs of health care, those surveyed named malpractice lawsuits (31%) and drug company profits (26%). Technological advancements, the aging population and extended life expectancy ranked low, although research shows these are key cost drivers.

Fifty-five percent surveyed said they’ve had one or more problems with health care affordability or access, including difficulty affording the cost of prescription drugs (33%), putting off or postponing preventative care because of costs (28%), having difficulty affording the cost of necessary medical care (26%), and putting off or postponing treatment for an illness or injury because of costs (25%). Those surveyed also reported staying at a job just to keep the health insurance coverage (21%) and being dropped from a health insurance plan or refused coverage (13%).  Not surprisingly, those with above average incomes were less impacted by issues of cost and access.

Increasing costs impact consumer behavior. For example, 40% of those surveyed said their families have taken steps to reduce prescription drug costs, including not filling prescriptions prescribed by their doctors, cutting pills in half or taking them less often than prescribed, and taking non-prescription medicine instead of a prescription. Buying medicine over the Internet or in other countries weren’t common approaches to reducing prescription drug costs for Pennsylvanians, according to the poll.

What’s the impact on Pennsylvania’s economy and government?

Health care has a major impact on the state’s overall economy – from state government’s many roles as purchaser of healthcare, provider of insurance, and regulator of the health care industry; to the business community’s growing concerns over the cost of health insurance for employees; to consumers feeling the pinch from rising out-of-pocket health care costs.

Sound health care policy is vital to Pennsylvanians’ physical health, as well as the state’s economic health.  The rapid rise in the level of concern should catch the attention of everyone with a role shaping Pennsylvania health care policy.