A new poll reveals that likely voters oppose Medicare cuts that threaten access to hospital care and are concerned about corporate insurance companies’ practice of delaying and denying patients’ care.
The poll’s key findings include:
Voters Prioritize Access to Hospital Care & Oppose Cuts That Threaten Access:
- The vast majority of likely voters (82%) say the federal government should provide adequate funding to ensure hospitals serving rural and underserved communities remain open.
- Seven in 10 (70%) of voters would be less likely to vote for a Member of Congress who supported cuts to hospitals that threatened their ability to stay open.
- An overwhelming majority of voters (89%) would be willing to take action to support policies that would ensure access to hospital care.
- Nearly three-quarters (72%) of likely voters view hospitals favorably.
When It Comes to Healthcare Costs, Voters Hold Corporate Insurance Companies Accountable:
- Likely voters blame corporate health insurance companies the most for a lack of transparency in healthcare costs.
- Likely voters blame pharmaceutical companies and corporate health insurance companies the most for rising healthcare costs.
Voters Are Concerned About Corporate Insurers Delaying & Denying Care for Medicare Beneficiaries:
- Nearly eight in 10 likely voters (78%) are concerned about the trend of Medicare Advantage plans delaying and denying care for seniors.
- The vast majority (83%) are concerned about corporate insurers denying payments for medically necessary treatments or services for Medicare patients.
- Eight in 10 voters (80%) are concerned about insurers delaying Medicare patients’ access to medical treatments or services by requiring prior authorization.
- Eight in 10 voters (80%) are concerned about corporate insurers limiting Medicare patients’ choice of doctors and hospitals.
The new poll comes as corporate insurance companies bank record profits by delaying and denying important care for patients and buying up physician practices to exert even more control over Americans’ care. One corporate insurer alone now controls 10% of all physicians nationwide.
To read more about the poll, which was conducted by LSG for the Federation of American Hospitals, click here.