CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

The Cost of Health Care

December 4-7, 2014
Q5. Are you generally satisfied or dissatisfied with the quality of the health care you receive? (If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask: Would
you say you are very satisfied/dissatisfied or somewhat satisfied/dissatisfied?)

Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't know/No answer

** Total Respondents **
%
39
30
10
17
4

Dec13a
%
49
32
6
8
4

Q6. Are you generally satisfied or dissatisfied with your health care costs, both expenses not covered by insurance and the cost of
your insurance if any? (If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask: Would you say you are very satisfied/dissatisfied or somewhat
satisfied/dissatisfied?)

Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't know/No answer

26
26
14
29
4

Sep09b
22
26
24
23
4

Q7. Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan--something
like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get--that would compete with private health insurance plans?

Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

59
34
8

Oct09a
62
31
7

Q8.Would you favor or oppose a single payer health care system, in which all Americans would get their health insurance from one
government plan that is financed by taxes?

Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

43
50
7

Q20. How would you describe the affordability of basic medical care for you and your family--would you say basic medical care is
affordable, or is it a hardship?

Affordable
Hardship
Don't know/No answer

52
46
2

Dec13a
61
36
3

Q21. Think about the amount of money you and your family have paid out-of-pocket for health care and prescription drugs, that is,
your expenses not covered by insurance or government benefits, including any copays, and whatever you pay for your health
insurance. During the past few years, have your out-of-pocket costs gone up, gone down or stayed about the same?

Up a lot
Up a little
Stayed same
Down a little
Down a lot
Don't know/No answer

** Total Respondents **
%
33
19
39
3
2
3

Q22. Have your out-of-pocket costs gone up in the last few years because you or someone in your family has been getting more
medical treatment or because the cost of the usual amount of medical treatment has become more expensive?

More medical treatment

More expensive
Both
Don't know/No answer

*Among those whose out-of-pocket costs have gone up*

14
74
9
2

Q23. Thinking back over the past few years, would you say you are more likely or less likely to go to the doctor when you are sick or
injured, or hasnt there been much change?

Much more
Somewhat more
Not much change
Somewhat less
Much less
Don't know/No answer

** Total Respondents **
%
9
9
56
11
13
1

Q24. Is that mostly because of the cost of seeing a doctor, or for some other reason?

Cost
Other reason
Cost & other
Don't know/No answer

*Among those less likely to go to the doctor when you sick*

78
15
6
*

Q25. In the past few years, have you bought prescription drugs from Canada or other countries outside the United States in order to
pay a lower price, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

** Total Respondents **
6
94
*

Q26. In the past few years, have you or someone in your household not filled a prescription, cut pills in half or skipped doses of
medicine because of the cost, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

** Total Respondents **
%
25
74
1

Q27. In the past few years, have you or someone in your household gone without medical treatment you thought was needed
because of the cost, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

31
69
*

Q28. In the past few years, have you traveled outside the United States to a foreign country for medical treatment in order to pay a
lower price, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

2
98
-

Q29. Would you personally consider traveling outside the United States for medical treatment in a foreign country in order to pay a
lower price, or wouldnt you?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

*Among those who have not traveled outside the U. S. for medical treatment*
22
77
1

Q30. Is the amount of time you spend dealing with insurance paperwork and healthcare bills a major problem for you and your
family, a minor problem, or not a problem at all?

Major problem
Minor problem
Not a problem
Don't know/No answer

** Total Respondents **
16
32
50
1

Q31. Do you think your doctor should discuss the cost of recommended medical treatment with you ahead of time, or dont you
think that is necessary?
Should discuss
Not necessary
Don't know/No answer

80
18
2

Q32. Before getting any type of medical treatment, how often do you talk to your doctor about the cost -- almost always,
sometimes, hardly ever or never?

Almost always
Sometimes
Hardly ever
Never
Don't know/No answer

** Total Respondents **
%
28
22
21
28
1

Q33. In the past few years, have you or has anyone in your household received any medical bills for amounts that were larger than
expected or for services you didnt think you would be billed for, or has this not happened?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

48
52
*

Q34. In the past few years, did you or anyone in your immediate family have problems paying or were unable to pay any medical
bills, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

37
63
*

Q35. In the past few years, have you or anyone in your household been contacted by a collection agency because of medical bills, or
not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

28
71
1

Q43. Do you have some form of health insurance or health care coverage, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

88
12
*

Q44. Which of the following is your main source of health insurance coverage? Is it a plan through an employer or union, or a plan
you purchased yourself from an insurance company or purchased from a state or federal marketplace, or are you covered by
Medicare or Medicaid, or do you get your health insurance from somewhere else?
*Among those who have health insurance*
%
Employer or union
48
Self from insurance company
7
State or federal marketplace
4
Medicare/Medicaid
30
Somewhere else
8
VA/Tricare/Champus
1
Don't know/No answer
1

Q45. Would you describe your health as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
** Total Respondents **
%
26
48
18
8
*

Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Don't know/No answer

Total Respondents:

1,006