[NYAPRS Enews] Poll: Most Americans Reject Medicaid Block Grant, Cut Proposals

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Do Not Tinker With Medicaid! Most Americans Say

Written by Christian Nordqvist   Medical News Today  May 25, 2011   

The majority of Americans do not want to see any reductions in Medicaid
spending and are against the proposed plan to convert the health program
to block grant financing in an attempt to reduce the federal deficit,
according to a May Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, involving a nationally
representative random sample of 1,203 adults.
60% of all the people surveyed want Medicaid to remain as it is - with
guaranteed coverage from the federal government and minimum standards
set for eligibility and benefits. 35% would like to see states receiving
a fixed amount of money from the federal government, with each state
deciding what services should be covered and who is covered.
Just 13% favor reducing Medicaid spending to bring the deficit down.
While 30% say they would accept minor reduction, 53% are against any
reductions whatsoever.
These poll results may encourage some Washington politicians and
discourage others. Washington is in the middle of a fierce debate about
Medicare and Medicaid - in fact, any entitlement program is currently
under the microscope as a possible avenue for saving money.
Approximately half of all US citizens either have a household member or
friend who has received Medicaid assistance. Half of those surveyed see
Medicaid as important to their family. 20% of adults have had personal
coverage experience with Medicaid and they say they are happy with it.
Kaiser President and CEO Drew Altman, said: "If you watch the debate
about the deficit and entitlements, you would think that almost everyone
has a problem with the Medicaid program and wants to change it, or cut
it - or both. The big surprise in this month's tracking poll is that one
group who does not want to cut Medicaid is the American people. With
about 69 million people expected to be covered by Medicaid this year, it
is no longer the -welfare-linked program it once was. Medicaid may not
be the lower-hanging fruit that many who want to reduce federal
entitlement spending have assumed it is." 

 

Medicaid Experience

*	51% of all Americans say they have some personal connection to
Medicaid
*	20% have received direct Medicaid help
*	31% say they have a friend or family member who has received
Medicaid assistance
*	49% describe Medicaid as "very" or "somewhat" important to them
and their family

71% of those who favor Medicaid say their main reason is, knowing there
is a safety net to protect those on low income. Others feel encouraged
knowing that Medicaid is there in case they or a family member need the
assistance.

Mollyann Brodie, a senior vice president and director of the Public
Opinion and Survey Research group at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said:
"Medicaid is a complex program that varies considerably from state to
state, but the public's initial reaction upon hearing about proposed
spending reductions and structural changes is negative. Such concerns
reflect the fact that the program is important not only to those who
have been directly enrolled in it but those with friends and family who
have received Medicaid benefits as well."

 

Medicaid and Private Insurance Personal Experience Ratings

*	86% of recipients of Medicaid benefits describe their experience
as "positive"
*	45% of recipients of Medicaid benefits describe their experience
as "very positive"
*	89% of private health insurance users describe their experience
as "positive"
*	44% of private health insurance users describe their experience
as "very positive"

 

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Medicaid is set to
expand. 81% of respondents said that if they were uninsured, needed
medical therapy and had no insurance, and also qualified for Medicaid,
they would enroll.
However, some 32% of those who have ever used Medicaid said that at some
point, finding a doctor or health care provider willing to accept
Medicaid patients was difficult, versus 12% among those with private
insurance cover.


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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/226483.php 

 

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