California Physician Survey 2007
By Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
California Medical Association
Q.15 Which one of the following do you think is the biggest impediment for people to get timely access to health care?
66% – Lack of health insurance
16% – Too few physicians
8% – Inability to pay co-pays and deductibles
10% – Other
Q.16 In general, how different is the quality of care that uninsured persons receive compared with the care that people with insurance receive–much lower quality, somewhat lower quality, the same quality, or higher quality?
41% – Much lower quality
42% – Somewhat lower quality
16% – The same quality
1% – Higher quality
http://www.cmanet.org/upload/ca_physician_survey_2007.pdf
Comment:
By Don McCanne, MD
Most of us cringe when we hear a physician state that being uninsured doesn’t prevent access to health care, noting that the emergency room is always available. This survey provides reassurance that most physicians do not share that view. When asked what the one single biggest impediment to access is, two-thirds of physicians state that it is the lack of health insurance. Though it is acknowledged that other factors are also important, being insured is absolutely crucial.
Physicians also understand that patients receive lower quality care when they lack insurance; 83 percent of physicians are in concurrence.
The one percent who believe that the uninsured receive higher quality care likely represent those who dismiss the access issue as well. As we continue our efforts to insure everyone, we can dismiss those making such outrageous claims, reassured that the overwhelming majority of physicians agree that health insurance really does matter.