23,460 Respond To AFL-CIO, Working America Health Care Survey
6,400 Tell Personal Stories
www.2009healthcaresurvey.aflcio.org
(Washington, DC) –Over half of the 23,460 people who responded online to a health care survey sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Working America say they cannot get the health care they need at a price they can afford, and the problem is even more acute among people who buy their own insurance, Hispanics and young adults. A third of respondents report that they forgo basic medical care because of costs, including skipping doctor recommended tests and treatments and not visiting a doctor when they are sick.
The survey, conducted from April 1 through May 31, is a rich repository of information about health care experiences, with 6,409 of the respondents taking the time to share personal stories of their experiences, creating one of the largest datasets available on health care. Respondents include a wide range of Americans, with 78 percent insured, 64 percent employed, 20 percent retired, young and old, nonunion as well as union. Survey responses were tabulated and analyzed by Hart Research. With 11 million members, the AFL-CIO is the largest organization of working men and women in the U.S. Working America is the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, representing working people who do not have a union on the jobs.
One of the most striking findings: Having health insurance does not shelter families from high health costs or difficulty getting care. Fully 43 percent of people with insurance say that are not able to get the care they need a price they can afford, and 80 percent of those with insurance say their health care costs increased this year.
The uninsured are faring worse, with 96 percent saying they cannot get affordable health care.
The economy has also taken a toll on families and how they manage their health care. Nearly a quarter say someone in their household lost health care coverage in the past year because of losing or changing jobs.
"The results are clear. Too many working families are suffering under the burden of high health care costs, lack of access and a confusing and mismanaged system," said AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. "We hope this survey and the voices of those who responded will help keep the momentum going as we work toward real health care reform."
One-quarter of those without health insurance say they were denied coverage in the past year due to "pre-existing conditions." Valerie from Oregon talked about struggling to get health care for her autistic son. "I am a single mom, retired firefighter/paramedic and veteran. I have a 13 year old son who is autistic. Not one insurance company in my state will cover us because of my child's pre-existing health issues. So let me ask this .… Who will care for my child if I die? How cost effective is THAT on our health care system?"
The survey shows that health care is costlier and harder to access for people who cannot get employer-provided coverage or Medicare and who buy insurance in the private market. Sixty-two percent of them say they cannot get the care they need at an affordable price, compared with 39 percent of those with employer-provided coverage.
Overall, the results are a window into how dissatisfied people are with the current health care system and how urgently they want and need real health care reform. Nearly all (96 percent) report they are dissatisfied with health care costs in America, while 93 percent say they are dissatisfied with access to health care. Most (83 percent) say health insurers have too much influence on their health care and treatment. Ninety percent say that given the current economic crisis, health care reform is urgent.
The results of the survey will be distributed to Members of Congress and health care policy leaders who are currently debating health care reform legislation. The full survey report can be found online at: www.2009healthcaresurvey.aflcio.org.
Contact: Amaya Tune (202) 637-5018
