AARP Utah Releases Health Care Reform Survey

By: State: Utah | Source: AARP.org

AARP Utah released Improving Affordability, Expanding Coverage: Opinions about Health Care Reform in Utah, a survey of Utahns' perceptions about their health care, its future and their support for methods through which to improve and expand access to health care coverage in early March 2009.

"The results overwhelmingly demonstrate that Utahns support coordination of care, creation of a rich basic benefit package and a prohibition against charging higher premiums based on health status or pre-existing conditions," said Rob Ence, AARP Utah State Director.

Highlights of the survey include:

• Utah residents are worried about the affordability of health care. Three in four respondents are worried about having to pay more for their health care coverage , and over half are worried about not being able to afford health care services they think they need. One in four respondents with health care insurance is not very or not at all confident that they will be able to afford their health care costs in the future.
• Utah residents believe that all Utahns should have access to health care. Eighty-nine percent agree that all Utah residents should have access to basic health care . Approximately seven in ten believe it is extremely or very important for Utah to make health care more affordable and to reduce the number of uninsured residents.
• Utah residents say employers, insurance companies, individuals, workers, health care providers, and the government should contribute in order to provide health care coverage. Seventy-one percent of respondents without health care coverage are currently employed. About nine in ten respondents say employers should contribute so that everyone can have access to quality, affordable health care coverage, and a similar proportion believes insurance companies should contribute as well.
• Utah residents support health care reform proposals that promote health care affordability and accessibility. At least three in four Utahns support proposals that would promote healthy behaviors among consumers through education and incentives, establish a system that easily coordinates patient's care with all their physicians, and create a basic benefit package that provides access to health care coverage to all Utahns. Seven out of ten Utahns support prohibiting insurers from charging higher premiums based on health status or pre-existing conditions.

"Reforming the state health care system can't come too soon for Utahns," Ence added. "This survey clearly indicates their deep concern about the cost, accessibility and quality of their health care now and in the future. Mindful of the view of Utah's citizens, AARP will continue to work toward goals that ensure quality, health care is truly affordable and accessible."

To access the entire report go to: www.aarp.org/uthcr

Commissioned by the AARP Utah state office, the telephone survey of 800 Utah residents 18 years and older was undertaken in late 2008.