Voter Views: Politics of Health Care During a Presidential Election

Guest:

Phillip Morris, Partner & Leads Strategic Insights Practice, LSG

In this episode:

It is only January, but the campaign season is already in full swing. From the White House to
control of Congress - power in Washington is up for grabs. In this episode, Chip Kahn talks with
Phillip about what issues matter most to voters and where health care fits into that list of
priorities.

Topics they examine include:

• Most important issues to likely voters in this year's election - inflation, the economy, and immigration.
• Views on health care – voters point to big insurance and pharmaceutical companies as the main reasons for rising costs and lack of pricing transparency.
• Growing concern over Medicare Advantage plans delaying and denying doctor-ordered care for seniors.
• Voter’s view hospitals favorably and consider them among the most essential providers of health care in their communities.
• Overwhelming support for lawmakers ensuring hospitals have the necessary funding to provide 24/7 care.
• Political trends for 2024 and into 2025.

MORE:

Phillip Morris and his firm, LSG. recently conducted a poll on behalf of FAH and found wide support for hospitals and hospital funding among likely voters. The survey also discovered the vast majority are concerned about cuts to Medicare and abuses by Medicare Advantage plans, including denials and delays of care through prior authorization, denied payments for necessary treatments, and network restrictions limiting provider choice.

Key findings include:

• Voters view hospitals favorably and consider them among the most essential providers of health care in their communities.
  • Nearly three-quarters (72%) of likely voters view hospitals favorably.
  • The vast majority (82%) believe the federal government should provide adequate funding to ensure hospitals serving rural and underserved communities remain open.
• Lawmakers’ positions on hospital funding will affect voters’ actions at the ballot box.
  • Seventy percent 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 (89%) would be willing to take action to support policies that would ensure access to hospital care.
• Voters are concerned about the impact of Medicare Advantage practices on consumers’ access to health care.
  • The vast majority (78%) of voters are concerned about the trend of Medicare Advantage plans delaying or denying access to care for seniors.
  • A majority (56%) of voters believe there should be more regulation and oversight of Medicare Advantage plans.
  • Likely voters blame health insurers most for the lack of transparency in health care costs.

You can learn more here.