Do The Presidential Candidates Know What Healthcare Professionals Think?

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice;  Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 14 Oct 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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Senator McCain believes it to be a responsibility; Senator Obama, a right. While both candidates believe that healthcare reform is a high priority, they disagree on the methods necessary to fix this problem. But do they know which plan physicians support? A new study from DoctorDirectory of more than 900 physicians of all specialties was designed to assess attitudes on universal healthcare as it relates to the upcoming election.

While physicians indicate that the economy, not healthcare, is the most important issue facing voters in the upcoming election, they are, like the candidates, split in regards to healthcare reform.

DoctorDirectory asked if they believe that universal healthcare insurance will significantly improve access to healthcare for all Americans. 38.6% of physicians believe it will not improve access, while 33.9% responded that it will improve access, and 27.5% are unsure.

When asked "Do you believe that healthcare should be mandated for all Americans?" 42.7% of responders report that healthcare should be mandated for all Americans while 40.4% feel that it should not be mandated.

And who should pay for a universal healthcare insurance program? 26.9% think it's the responsibility of individuals with support from tax credits and healthcare accounts. 1.5% believe employers should foot the bill. 8.1% believe the responsibility lies with the federal government. However, the majority of responders (63.5%) support some combination of payors.

See chart:
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DoctorDirectory was also interested in their view as to whether mandated healthcare insurance should carry a fine or penalty for those NOT having it. 31.2% of responders do, in fact, believe that people should be fined for not having healthcare insurance. 49.2% feel that people should not be fined.

Fixing the issue of healthcare in this country and which candidate supports the best program will continue to be debated, right up to Election Day. Healthcare professionals do have strong opinions about this issue and are not only looking to the next Administration to implement changes, but want to be heard.

This survey was conducted as an independent research study by DoctorDirectory.com, Inc., a marketing services company serving healthcare professionals and pharma industry clients. For more information about this study or DoctorDirectory.com and its services, contact Jay Grobowsky, CEO, at 828-255-0252 or visit us on the web at http://www.doctordirectory.com or http://www.contactdd.com.