May 24, 2007
Contact: Tony Wyche (314) 361-4774 or tonywyche@soapbox-pr.com

New MFH Poll Examines Missouri Voters' Attitudes About Role of Business, Government in Providing Health Care

Survey also finds increasing voter anxiety over their ability to afford health insurance for their families

St. Louis - The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) today released the results of a new statewide poll examining Missouri voters' attitudes about health care and the role businesses and the government should play in providing health coverage. The poll, which surveyed 800 registered Missouri voters between May 10-16, shows that health care continues to top the list of Missourians' concerns, with more than eight in ten concerned about affordable health care for themselves and their families.

"This is the second poll we have commissioned this year showing that health care tops the list of voter concerns and that across party lines there is a great deal of anxiety about the health care system," said Leslie Reed, MFH Vice President for Health Policy.

"With this survey, we wanted to gain specific insight into voters' perceptions of the role businesses and the government play in providing quality, affordable health coverage. The results are quite interesting, and highlight the challenges faced by individuals, businesses, and the government as all attempt to deal with issues of health care and health insurance coverage."

Among the key findings of the poll:

• Health care is the top concern of Missouri voters, with over one-in-five (21%) saying it is their most important issue.
• Over 80% of respondents expressed concern about affordable health coverage for themselves and their families. And nearly two-thirds of voters (65%) expressed concern that health care coverage would become too expensive for them to afford in the next year.
• When asked if they prefer "the current health insurance system in the United States, in which most people get their health insurance from private employers, but some people have no insurance," or "a health insurance program, in which everyone is covered under a program like Medicare that's run by the government and financed by taxpayers, but uses private doctors and hospitals?" by a plurality, voters expressed a preference for a Medicare-type system (48% for Medicare-like, 38% for current system and 15% with no preference).
• When asked if they thought employers providing coverage were paying too much, not enough, or the right amount for their employees' health care, 33% said not enough, 22% said too much, and 22% said the amount was "about right."
• More than eight-in-ten voters (84%) believe it is important for the government to offer health care coverage for uninsured people who cannot afford it on their own.
• Two-thirds say they would support providing health care for all even if it means raising their taxes and/or a major role for the federal government in financing care.

The results of the poll -- which was conducted by the bi-partisan partnership of Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group and has a margin of error of +/-3.5% -- were released at Health Summit 2007: The Intersection of Health and Business. Presented by Missouri Foundation for Health, the day-long Health Summit examined such issues as how businesses of varying sizes are dealing with health care issues in the face of rising costs and a changing health policy landscape. A key goal of the Health Summit was helping participants better understand how businesses and nonprofit organizations can work together to address health care costs and improve employee health and wellness.

For more information about the Missouri Foundation for Health and its health policy research, visit www.mffh.org.

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Established in 2000, MFH is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in the state. MFH is in its fifth year of grantmaking, having issued more than $215 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured, underinsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis. For more information about MFH, visit www.mffh.org.

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