Athens, Ga. – Despite the national debate on health care reform, Georgians generally express a high level of satisfaction with several aspects of the health care system, according to a recent Peach State Poll. More than 90 percent of Georgians say that they are very satisfied (58 percent) or satisfied (33 percent) with the quality of the health care they receive. Georgians are extremely satisfied with the quality of communication they have with their doctors. The poll also found that those without health insurance are much more likely to express dissatisfaction with the quality of care they receive (23 percent compared with 7 percent).
The Peach State Poll is an ongoing survey of public opinion conducted by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
Other Peach State Poll results:
- Overall, Georgians’ satisfaction levels are higher than those of Americans, except when it comes to the ability to get nonemergency treatment without having to wait.
- Georgians from households with incomes above $50,000 are far more likely to have health insurance coverage (94 percent) than those with incomes between $20,000 and $50,000 (78 percent) or those with incomes below $20,000 (47 percent).
- Those with health insurance are most likely to get the coverage through an employer (47 percent); however, 61 percent of 18-25 year-olds with health insurance get their coverage through a spouse or family member (most likely a parent), and 52 percent of those over age 65 get their coverage through the government.
- Only 21 percent of respondents say that either they or a family member have had trouble getting in to see a doctor when they felt it was necessary; 11 percent of respondents used the emergency room because they could not get in to see their doctor.
- More than one-third of survey respondents say that they never discuss the cost of medical procedures (34 percent) or prescriptions (37 percent) with their doctor. In addition, 39 percent say that they never take cost into consideration when deciding whether or not to visit a doctor.
These data were taken from a Peach State Poll survey conducted between May 4 and 17. The poll included 802 telephone interviews of randomly selected adults in Georgia. For a sample of this size, the margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level is +/-3.5 percent.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a public service and outreach unit of the University of Georgia, has as part of its mission to provide policymakers with systematic, objective research to inform policy decisions. In accordance with that mission, the Peach State Poll aims to give voice to the public on important policy matters and issues pertaining to political, social, and economic life in Georgia.
For more information on this survey or other Peach State Poll results, see www.vinsoninstitute.org/peachpoll.