KQED’s ‘California Report’ Addresses Survey on Voters’ Attitudes Toward Health Care

KQED's "The California Report" on Wednesday reported on a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California addressing voters' attitudes toward health care in general and the five health care-related initiatives -- Propositions 61, 63, 67, 71 and 72 -- that were included on the November 2004 statewide ballot.

Survey director Mark Baldassare said the survey showed that most California voters felt that they were "less likely to be swayed by special interests" than legislators or the governor on issues. The survey also found that most voters relied on the information guide to decide how they would vote on the ballot measures and that they did not feel that another information resource on the measures was necessary.

With regard to Proposition 72, Baldassare said that "most" California residents surveyed believe that employers should provide health care coverage to workers, although respondents said they were concerned that additional health expenses could cause businesses to eliminate jobs. According to the survey, about 13% of respondents reported being very satisfied with the affordability of their health insurance.

In addition, Baldassare said the survey found that eight out of 10 respondents said they believed the initiative process was a positive thing for the state. The survey polled 2,500 voters after the November 2004 election (Schafer, "The California Report," KQED, 2/23). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer. The survey is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to access the survey.