Healthcare http://www.gallup.com/ http://backend.userland.com/rss Gallup WebTeam Substantially more Americans rate healthcare coverage in the country as excellent or good this year (38%) than did so a year ago (26%). Similarly, more Americans now say they are satisfied with the total cost of U.S. healthcare (26%) than said this a year ago (19%). http://www.gallup.com/poll/124415/Greater-Optimism-U.S.-Health-System-Coverage-Costs.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124415/Greater-Optimism-U.S.-Health-System-Coverage-Costs.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT In the midst of the debate over healthcare reform, Americans are about as likely to rank the quality of healthcare in the U.S. as excellent or good (58%) as they were last year (57%). At the same time, they are slightly more likely to rate U.S. health coverage as excellent or good (38%) than they were last year (26%). http://www.gallup.com/video/124337/Rate-healthcare.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/124337/Rate-healthcare.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Smoking is strongly related to well-being regardless of income, according to Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index data from 2008 and 2009. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers are less likely than non-smokers to be “thriving," report fewer positive emotions, and are more likely to report depression. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124280/Nonsmokers-Top-Smokers-Across-Incomes.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124280/Nonsmokers-Top-Smokers-Across-Incomes.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 GMT If a new healthcare bill is passed into law, Americans would be most concerned about its costs, increased government involvement in healthcare, how a new law would affect their personal healthcare situations, and that a new bill would not do enough to expand healthcare access. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124331/Costs-Gov't-Involvement-Top-Healthcare-Reform-Concerns.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124331/Costs-Gov't-Involvement-Top-Healthcare-Reform-Concerns.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans who favor the healthcare legislation are most concerned about the cost, while those who oppose the legislation are most concerned about bureaucracy. http://www.gallup.com/video/124292/Cost-Bureaucracy-Top-Healthcare-Reform-Concerns.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/124292/Cost-Bureaucracy-Top-Healthcare-Reform-Concerns.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT After several months of decreased concern, Americans in November are more likely than last month to cite economic concerns as the most important problem facing the country. Now, 31% mention the economy in general and 20% mention unemployment as the top problem. Healthcare (22%) also figures prominently. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124298/Economy-Picks-Up-Again-Most-Important-Problem.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124298/Economy-Picks-Up-Again-Most-Important-Problem.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:45:00 GMT For the first time this decade, more Americans (50%) say providing healthcare for all is not the government’s responsibility than say it is (47%). http://www.gallup.com/video/124256/government-responsibility-healthcare.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/124256/government-responsibility-healthcare.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT More Americans now believe it is not the government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage (50%) than think it is (47%). This marks the first time this decade when a plurality has not favored the “government responsibility” viewpoint. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124253/Say-Health-Coverage-Not-Gov-Responsibility.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124253/Say-Health-Coverage-Not-Gov-Responsibility.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT One out of five parents in the U.S. say they have attempted to get H1N1 or swine flu vaccinations for a child but have been unable to do so. Seventeen percent of parents say at least one of their children has already been vaccinated, compared to 5% of adults who have been personally vaccinated. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124220/Parents-Unable-H1N1-Vaccine-Child.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124220/Parents-Unable-H1N1-Vaccine-Child.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT Americans are evenly split on the potential long-term impact of a new healthcare bill on the U.S. healthcare system: 41% say it would make the system better; 40% say it would make it worse. They are more negative than positive on the bill’s potential impact on their personal healthcare situations. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124202/No-Clear-Mandate-Americans-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124202/No-Clear-Mandate-Americans-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:45:00 GMT In October, an average of 2.7% American adults reported that they were "sick with the flu yesterday," up from 1.9% in September. At the same time, an average of 7.7% adults reported having a cold, up from 5.4% in September. http://www.gallup.com/video/124142/Uptick-Reported-Flu-Cold-Cases.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/124142/Uptick-Reported-Flu-Cold-Cases.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans are closely divided on healthcare reform, meaning that public opinion offers no real political advantage to either champions or opponents of the idea. That said, a review of Gallup polls conducted throughout the debate reveals five realities crucial to understanding public opinion on this issue. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123989/Americans-Healthcare-Reform-Five-Key-Realities.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123989/Americans-Healthcare-Reform-Five-Key-Realities.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT A majority of Americans, 55%, have at least a fair amount of trust in President Barack Obama on healthcare reform, compared with 48% expressing trust in the Democrats in Congress and 37% trusting the Republicans in Congress. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123917/On-Healthcare-Americans-Trust-Obama-More-Than-Congress.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123917/On-Healthcare-Americans-Trust-Obama-More-Than-Congress.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:15:00 GMT More Americans choose the economy (41%) than any other issue as the top priority for Barack Obama, but that is down sharply from last November (64%). By contrast, the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the federal budget deficit, and healthcare have grown in perceived importance over the past year. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123899/Americans-Priorities-Vying-Obama-Attention.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123899/Americans-Priorities-Vying-Obama-Attention.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT While Americans are still most likely to say that the economy should be Obama’s top priority as president (41%), that is down from the 64% who said the same in November of last year. http://www.gallup.com/video/123908/Fewer-Americans-Economy-Top-Priority-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/123908/Fewer-Americans-Economy-Top-Priority-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT Nearly half of Americans, 49%, expect the costs they pay for healthcare to get worse if a healthcare bill passes, up from 42% last month. More Americans now also believe their coverage and quality will get worse than did so in September. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123815/Half-Own-Costs-Worsening-Healthcare-Bill.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123815/Half-Own-Costs-Worsening-Healthcare-Bill.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans are more likely to say that their own healthcare costs, coverage, insurance requirements, and quality of care will get worse than get better if a healthcare bill passes this year. http://www.gallup.com/video/123812/Americans-Own-Care-Worsening-Healthcare-Bill.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/123812/Americans-Own-Care-Worsening-Healthcare-Bill.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT While the majority of Americans appear to have made up their minds on healthcare reform, 39% say their support for the final bill will depend on the details. Exactly half (50%) say they favor a public insurance option, but most (61%) would oppose reducing payments to Medicare providers. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123782/In-U.S.-39-Say-View-Healthcare-Depends-Details.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123782/In-U.S.-39-Say-View-Healthcare-Depends-Details.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT Twenty-five percent of Americans say they think they will support the final healthcare bill, 33% say they think they will oppose the bill, and another 39% say their decision depends on some of the decisions that have yet to be made about the bill. http://www.gallup.com/video/123791/One-Four-Support-Healthcare-Bill-Oppose.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/123791/One-Four-Support-Healthcare-Bill-Oppose.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT Bestselling author Dan Buettner journeyed around the globe, investigating the places where people live the longest to find the secrets to living longer, healthier lives. Buettner discusses the practical implication of the lessons he learned in the first segment of Gallup’s special series, “Next Steps: Transforming Americans’ Health and Well-Being.” http://www.gallup.com/video/123716/Longer-Healthier-Life.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/123716/Longer-Healthier-Life.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT Twenty-six percent of Americans interviewed Oct. 1-4 say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country, down slightly from 29% in early September. Currently, 71% are dissatisfied, the highest level since March. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123662/U.S.-Satisfaction-Sinks-Six-Month-Low.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123662/U.S.-Satisfaction-Sinks-Six-Month-Low.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:15:00 GMT Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index data for September find 16.6% of American adults without health insurance, tying this year’s high from May, and up from 13.9% in September 2008. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123509/At-16.6-Number-Uninsured-Americans-Ties-High.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123509/At-16.6-Number-Uninsured-Americans-Ties-High.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT Americans remain largely divided on whether Congress should pass healthcare legislation, with a full quarter continuing to be unsure. However, when the leanings of undecided Americans are pressed, healthcare reform now enjoys a slight advantage, 51% to 41%, versus the 50% to 47% spread seen last month. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123470/Opposition-Healthcare-Legislation-Drops-Modestly.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123470/Opposition-Healthcare-Legislation-Drops-Modestly.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:45:00 GMT Nearly two-thirds of Americans (61%) and independents (64%), and nearly all Republicans (89%) say Americans themselves -- rather than the government -- should be responsible for ensuring that they and their families have health insurance. Different question wordings elicit more support for the government. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123332/Many-U.S.-See-Health-Insurance-Personal-Responsibility.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123332/Many-U.S.-See-Health-Insurance-Personal-Responsibility.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT Senior citizens oppose healthcare legislation by 42% to 32%, making them the least supportive of all age groups. Middle-aged Americans are more evenly divided, while younger Americans tend to support it -- though many do not have an opinion. Clear distinctions also exist by race, income, and education. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123164/Seniors-Lean-Against-New-Healthcare-Law.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123164/Seniors-Lean-Against-New-Healthcare-Law.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT