Americans’ confidence in healthcare remained consistent throughout 2009, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Healthcare Consumer Confidence Index.
After a sharp rise in confidence in October to 104.4 points, the RWJF Index fell in November to 96.9 points – closer to the average throughout 2009. Since the RWJF Index began in April 2009, confidence has averaged 99.2 points.
During the year, 26.5 percent of Americans worried each month that they would lose healthcare coverage, and 48.3 percent worried that they wouldn't be able to afford future healthcare needs if they or a family member became seriously ill.
“As the debate over health reform has ebbed and flowed, polls show spikes and dips in Americans’ overall confidence in their healthcare,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Despite monthly fluctuation, over time people’s concern regarding their ability to access and pay for care has remained consistent.”
That suggests, she said, that Americans’ confidence in the future of their healthcare is more affected by personal concerns than political rhetoric. She said people are struggling and worrying that the healthcare system they experience is broken and not meeting their needs.
The RWJF Index is created from data collected by the Surveys of Consumers, with analysis provided by the University of Minnesota’s State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC). The survey evaluates consumer confidence along a spectrum of economic issues including American healthcare.
According to the RWJF Index:
- 81.7 percent believe it's important that President Barack Obama include health reform in plans to address the economy.
- 44.4 percent are concerned about being able to afford routine care in the future.
- 41.1 percent worry about being able to afford needed prescriptions in the future.
- 26.7 percent are concerned that they may go bankrupt from medical bills.
“Americans still see a clear connection between economic recovery and fixing healthcare," said Lavizzo-Mourey. “We have consistently seen that people rate health reform as an important part of any plan to address the economy. As the nation continues to struggle to create new jobs and the debate over health reform drags on, people’s fears over how they will access and pay for care persist and are likely to get worse.”