We are in a significant
meltdown in terms of
economic confidence. Health
care costs are among the top
three issues people mention
as their primary economic
concern.
Slide 1
More directly, three out of
ten people say the current
health care system is not
meeting their needs. Since
1992, when this
percentage has been at
30% or higher, it has been
a harbinger of a significant
health care debate.
Slide 2
Voters say Congress
should work first to
make health care more
affordable rather than
the first priority being
covering more of the
uninsured.
Slide 3
Slide 4
Something beats
nothing.
Start by connecting to how people feel about the current
health care system and acknowledge their concerns
about getting/keeping affordable coverage.
Talk about cost in terms of its impact on people and families.
Talk about poor quality care caused by overuse, misuse,
waste, fraud, and doctors having to practice defensive
medicine which drives up health care costs.
Take advantage of the strong belief a health system that puts
its emphasis on keeping people healthy would be less
expensive.
When we test only the Democrats’
positions and the GOP rebuttal, this
was
effective.
Republicans have to have a plan.
Have an aspirational goal about the reason controlling cost is
so important. People easily believe there is a link between
high cost and the inability to cover more people.
Slide 5
Slide 6
1
Don't confuse "universal"
and "national" health care
National health care means government
run. That's bad. Universal health care
means everyone is covered. That's good.
We should be for what's good -- but in a
way consistent with GOP values.
Universal health care won't happen
overnight -- but a goal should be to
provide more options for coverage.
Slide 7
Following the bailout, voters were split on whether the
government should do more or was already
doing too much.
Slide 8
While financial issues dominate, health care remains
high on the agenda.
Top Five Priorities Government Should Address By Combined Choice
Combined
Choice
Satisfaction with Government Involvement
-4%
+8%
+13%
+15%
+21%
+17%
+18%
+18%
+2%
July 2008
December 2008
Economy & Jobs
44%
Economy & Jobs
41%
Energy / Cost of Gas
Crises in Financial
Markets 32%
41%
55%
52%
32%
36%
12/95
53%
53%
52%
33%
12/1997
32%
1/2002
37%
3/2007
36%
34%
9/2007
Do More
11/2007
Iraq
33%
Energy / Cost of Gas
Health Care
26%
Iraq
26%
47% 45%
45%
41%
34%
2/2008
35%
7/2008
30%
Illegal Immigration
16%
10/2008
Doing Too Much
Health Care
23%
Slide 9
The percent of people saying they want
“radical change” to the health care system is
among the highest in a generation of tracking:
Slide 10
While satisfied with how the health care system meets
their own personal needs, voters do believe the health care
system is failing other Americans, including children.
Satisfaction With Current Health Care System
+44%
Kept basically the
same
-42%
-34%
71%
66%
60%
Reformed
27%
26%
24%
Radically changed
You And Your Family
Most Americans
Yes, Meets Needs
Do you think the health care system in the U.S. should be kept basically the same, should be reformed, or should be radically changed?
Slide 11
American Children
No, Does Not Meet Needs
Generally speaking, is the current health care system meeting the needs of you and your family/most Americans/American children?
Slide 12
2
We are witnessing a paradigm shift in the way
Americans think about health care. Here are three
important things you need to know about the
current national health care debate:
Dissatisfaction with the American health
care system is at an all-time high.
Americans do not believe the current trends
are sustainable and they want action.
Voters are focused squarely on costs.
Slide 13
What reforms do voters believe are necessary
and acceptable?
Not Necessary
Slide 14
Not Necessary
Not Acceptable
Reduce access to
health care services
among those who
are currently insured
Not Acceptable
More government
involvement in
managing the
health care system
Employer mandate
Raise taxes to cover
the uninsured
Individual mandate
Slide 15
Slide 16
The Bush and McCain numbers closely track each other in
terms of whether voters are more or less likely to vote for
either candidate based on what they say about health care.
Among 2004 Voters
Who Heard Bush Talk
About Health Care
+7%
Among All 2004
Voters
+4%
Among 2008 Voters Who
Heard McCain Talk
About Health Care
+4%
Among All 2008
Voters
+2%
57%
50%
30%
25%
27%
25%
23%
18%
13%
9%
14% 12%
More Likely
Less Likely
No Difference
And did what George Bush/John McCain say about health care make you more likely to vote for Bush/McCain, less likely to vote for
him or did it make no difference in your vote?
Slide 17
Slide 18
3
However, voters were more likely to vote for Obama
based on what he said about health care than they
were for Kerry in 2004.
Among 2004 Voters
Who Heard Kerry Talk
About Health Care
+17%
Among All 2004
Voters
Among 2008 Voters Who
Heard Obama Talk
About Health Care
+14%
Among All 2008 Voters By Party
Among All 2008
Voters
+25%
45%
McCain did not quite persuade Independents
with his discussion about health care.
+22%
45%
36%
Republicans
39%
36%
34%
29%
29%
Independents
20%
19%
17%
15%
Democrats
More Likely
Less Likely
No Difference
And did what John Kerry/Barack Obama say about health care make you more likely to vote for Kerry/Obama, less likely to vote for
him or did it make no difference in your vote?
Slide 19
Slide 20
While Obama is a plus among Independents and garners
more support from his own party than McCain on this issue.
Among All 2008 Voters By Party
Republicans
Independents
Democrats
Slide 21
After rating each individual element of the plan, overall, 68%
favor/27% oppose a Republican health plan.
Slide 22
After rating each individual element of the plan, overall, 64%
favor/32% oppose a Democrat health plan.
The Democratic Health Care Plan Ranked By % Favor
The Republican Health Care Plan Ranked By % Favor
Parts Of Health Care Plan
% Favor
% Oppose
Parts Of Health Care Plan
Portability
Portability
National Marketplace/AHPs
Regulate Industry / Cannot Refuse Or
Deny Coverage
Re-Importation Of Prescription Drugs
Guaranteed Access To A Government
Health Plan
Medical Liability Reform
Child Coverage Mandate
Health Savings Accounts
National Health Insurance Exchange /
Regulate Industry
End Employer Tax Breaks / Provide
Tax Credits To Americans
% Favor
% Oppose
Repeal Tax Cuts / Increase Taxes
Slide 23
Slide 24
4
Voters told us in an open-ended
question what they think works about
each of the health plans:
Even with one simple negative about each plan, support
eroded quickly for each of the proposals.
Republican Plan
+41%
Democrat Plan
+13%
68%
+32%
+8%
Republican Plan
Allows individuals to have a
choice/ more control over
health care options
64%
54%
52%
Tax benefit plan that allows
individuals to buy their own
health insurance coverage
44%
41%
32%
27%
Ability to keep insurance as
you move from job-to-job
Encourages competition/
free market
Initial
Post
Initial
Total Favor
Cheaper/ more
affordable prescription
drugs
Post
Total Oppose
Democrat Plan
Guarantees coverage for everyone
Providing coverage for the poor fighting for the poor
Will make sure all children have
health insurance coverage
Allowed to keep the private
insurance that one currently owns
Ability to keep insurance as you
move from job-to-job
Will regulate insurance companies
Do you favor or oppose Republican’s/Democrat’s proposed health care plan?
Slide 25
Slide 26
Red flags to consider within each of
the health plans:
Republican Plan
Democrat Plan
The belief this health care
plan will not provide coverage
for everyone (and within that,
not doing enough for
coverage for children)
The plan does not address the
need to regulate/crack down
on insurance companies - limit
their profits
Should allow for more
government involvement in
addressing problems with the
current health care system
There are still a fair amount of people
who are against any kind of
government involvement in health care
Very expensive - plan will raise taxes
and increase the burden on American
taxpayers
Do not like the idea of a new
government agency being created/
against the idea of a watchdog group
Think it is wrong to force/ require
mandatory health insurance
Slide 27
Slide 28
Bush Progress on Issues
Ranked by % Lost Ground
Bush Progress on Issues
Ranked by % Lost Ground
Issue
Made Progress
Stood Still
Lost Ground
Issue
Made Progress
Stood Still
Lost Ground
The Economy
5%
7%
87%
The
Environment
28%
28%
42%
U.S. Position in
the World
12%
17%
69%
Crime
25%
33%
39%
Health Care
13%
33%
52%
Civil Liberties
21%
35%
38%
Immigration
14%
28%
51%
Terrorism
40%
20%
37%
Energy
21%
27%
49%
39%
21%
36%
Taxes
16%
35%
45%
National
Defense &
Military
Race Relations
Education
28%
28%
42%
40%
31%
25%
Efforts to Fight
AIDS
38%
31%
19%
Slide 29
Slide 30
5
Aside from the economy, adults say Health Care should be
President Obama’s top priority.
A majority of adults are confident Obama will be able to
deliver on his campaign promises.
How confident are you that, as president, Barack Obama
will have success in each of the following areas?
Ranked by % Total Confident
“Now thinking about priorities for the new president other than the economy...
Which one of the following five issues do you think should have the highest priority
for Barack Obama's attention”
6%
Health Care
Make Health Care more affordable and accessible
23%
9%
Energy
22%
Turn around the economy
15%
Defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
9%
66%
29%
62%
25%
14%
13%
69%
27%
23%
12%
Make the US less dependent on oil for energy
Relations with US Allies
71%
26%
28%
Bring US troops home from Iraq
10%
Iraq
33%
14%
19%
Very Confident
Not at all Confident
Slide 31
79%
39%
17%
30%
Improve relations with US Allies
36%
48%
45%
Somewhat Confident
Not too Confident
Slide 32
Turning Questions Into Answers
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Alexandria, Virginia 22314
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