Poll Finds Party Split on U.S. Health Care Views

So suggests a recent survey by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Harris Interactive, as part of their ongoing series, Debating Health: Election 2008. Nearly seven in ten Republicans (68%) surveyed said they believe the U.S. health care system is the best in the world, compared to just three in ten (32%) Democrats and four in ten (40%) Independents, according to a HSPH press release.

Overall, 45% of respondents said the U.S. has the best system; 39% believe other countries have better systems; and 15% said they do not know or refused to answer.

When asked if they would be more likely to support or oppose a presidential candidate who advocates making the U.S. health care system more like health systems in other countries – specifically Canada, France, and Great Britain – only one in five (19%) Republicans said they would be more likely to support such a candidate. However, more than half (56%) of Democrats and more than a third of Independents (37%) said they would be more likely to support such a candidate.

In head-to-head comparisons with health care systems in Canada, France, and Great Britain, a large percentage of Americans are not sure how the U.S. compares overall, the press release said. Over half (53%) of Americans admitted they do not know how the U.S. generally compares to France and four in ten (40%) said they do not know if the U.S. system is better or worse than Great Britain’s. A quarter (26%) indicated they are not sure how the U.S health care system compares to the Canadian system.

In comparing specific areas, a slim majority of Americans believe that the U.S. health care system is better in terms of the quality of care patients receive (55%) and shorter waiting times to see specialists or be admitted to the hospital (53%). Very few believe the U.S. has the edge when it comes to providing affordable access to everyone (26%) and controlling health care costs (21%).

Again the views on specific areas are split by party lines. Forty percent of Republicans said the U.S health care system is better than other countries when it comes to making sure everyone can get affordable health care, compared to just one-in-five Democrats (19%) and Independents (22%). On each of the four elements tested, Independents are within a few percentage points of agreement with Democrats, and both are significantly separated from Republicans.

More data from the survey is available here .

align="center"> SUMMARY OF BEST SYSTEM BY COUNTRY

"Specifically thinking about [Canada, France, Great Britain], would you say that overall the United States has a better health care system than [Canada, France, Great Britain] or a worse health care system than [Canada, France, Great Britain]?"

Base: 1026 Adults

Source: Debating Health: Election 2008, Harvard School of Public Health/

Harris Interactive. March 5-8, 2008

align="center"> LIKELIHOOD TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE - BY PARTY

"Would you be more likely or less likely to support a presidential candidate who said the United States health care system should be more like the system in these other countries, or would it not make a difference to your vote?"

Base: 1026 Adults

Source: Debating Health: Election 2008, Harvard School of Public Health/

Harris Interactive. March 5-8, 2008