A survey of healthcare consumers finds an increasing gap in perceptions of security among those who have health coverage and those who don't.
The second annual Health Security Index, released by Catholic Healthcare West, found disparities in beliefs about security among low- and high-income Americans.
The study gauges Americans' perceptions and beliefs about their ability to access the care they need and maintain their health.
"The Health Security Index shows us the security divide is growing between the haves and have nots," said Lloyd H. Dean, president and CEO of the integrated delivery system. "It also shows us that Americans are united in their willingness to do their part for meaningful health reform."
The index assigned to the survey remained at 66 this year, the same as in 2007. However, those earning less than $35,000 had a security score of 59, compared with a score of 72 for those earning more than $75,000. That gap in index scores is wider than it was for the previous year's study.
The gap is even wider for those who have private insurance (70), compared with those who don't have health insurance (49). That gap in sentiment also increased in 2008 over the previous year, researchers said.
Catholic Healthcare West said the survey of 1,150 adults found that fewer of the uninsured say they feel secure about their healthcare (27 percent in 2008, compared with 32 percent the previous year), while the privately insured showed no difference in their perceptions on security in 2007 (62 percent).
Only 36 percent of respondents earning less than $35,000 said they would be "okay" financially if they are stricken by a serious illness, compared with 39 percent in 2007. By contrast, 74 percent of those earning more than $75,000 said they would be able to financially weather a serious illness.
The findings show that those without health insurance are more than three times more likely as those with insurance to have had to choose between paying for basic necessities and healthcare.
Support for universal healthcare remains strong: Some 69 percent of respondents said they believe the time has come for universal healthcare, down slightly from 72 percent in 2007. Some 84 percent of Democrats support universal healthcare, compared with 45 percent of Republicans and 67 percent of independent voters.
Finally, 33 percent of respondents this year say affordable healthcare is the single most important healthcare challenge facing the nation today, compared with 22 percent in last year's survey.