Quality pay for quality care?

Quick View. April 24, 2006.

Americans say they want higher quality care, but they're not willing to pay more for it.

Question

Response

2003

2006

"Do you favor or oppose health insurance plans paying more to hospitals and medical groups that have been shown to provide better care and paying less to those that have not?"

Favor	44%	33%
Oppose	16%	13%
Not sure	40%	54%

"Do you think there are fair and reliable ways to measure and compare the quality of care provided by different hospitals and different medical groups?"

There are fair and reliable ways	58%	49%
There are not fair and reliable ways	11%	16%
Not sure	31%	35%

"Do you think it would be fair for patients to pay more to be treated by medical groups or hospitals which have been shown to provide better care or not?"

Fair for patients to pay more	18%	19%
Not fair for patients to pay more	64%	57%
Not sure	18%	24%

"Would you be willing to pay a significantly higher premium for a health insurance plan which covered you to go to hospitals and medical groups that have been shown to provide superior care?"

Would be willing	16%	14%
Would not be willing	60%	55%
Not sure	23%	31%

A recent Harris Interactive/Wall Street Journal poll of 2,123 U.S. adults showed some would like to see health insurance plans pay physicians and hospitals more for providing quality care, but few said they would be willing to pay a higher premium as a result. Survey results are compared with responses from 2003.

Note: Percentages might not add up to 100% because of rounding.

Source: Harris Interactive/Wall Street Journal poll

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