A new national survey gauging Americans’ attitudes toward the financing and provision of health insurance shows that consumers want more coverage and choice but don’t want to pay higher insurance costs. The survey, published online in Health Affairs, also finds that the uninsured are more likely to reject policies that mandate the purchase of health insurance, and more than 25% are comfortable with charging obese people higher premiums for their benefits.
Researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago found that Americans have difficulty making tradeoffs to reform the health system and make coverage more broadly available, preferring instead to put the onus on government and employers.
The survey also suggests that support for mandatory health insurance depends on a person’s situation. More than three-quarters of those who lack health insurance reject the idea of mandating that it be purchased. Researchers say that this could be because they have consciously chosen to avoid coverage and want to reserve the right to make that choice, or because coverage is too expensive. In addition, consumers increasingly support making people pay more for unhealthy behavior. A majority believe that smokers should pay more for health insurance, and a sizable minority believe that charging obese people higher premiums is appropriate. Read the report.
