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America’s working class takes a dim view of the state of the nation’s healthcare system, according to a survey issued by the AFL-CIO and its Working America affiliate Tuesday.
More than 26,000 people filled out the survey on a website sponsored by the union and promoted to its members and other people on its mailing list. Of the people who responded, 57 percent were union members. Although the respondents were self-selected, making the poll less than scientific, the results portray a stark image of workers’ interactions with the healthcare system: 95 percent said “health care in America needs fundamental change or to be completely rebuilt,” according to the union.
The AFL-CIO draws particular attention to the finding that one-third of the people who took the survey said they have skipped needed medical care because of the high cost of the services, even though most of them have some form of health insurance.
“These are the people you would expect to have positive experiences with America’s healthcare system … the lucky ones — except they’re not,” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said.
“They’re hurting … struggling to pay medical bills, skipping doctor visits and prescriptions because of costs … and they are extremely pessimistic about the future of our country. They think healthcare is one of today’s most important issues and they are ready to vote about it,” he said.
The union is highlighting the survey in an attempt to keep healthcare at the forefront of the presidential campaign. The cost, availability and quality of medical care and health insurance are of utmost importance to union members, the AFL-CIO indicated. The survey revealed that 79 percent of respondents viewed healthcare as a major campaign issue.
As would be expected, those who lack health insurance are more likely to forgo medical treatment because of cost, which 76 percent of the uninsured reported they or a family member did last year.
Having health insurance is not a cure for anxiety over costs, however, according to the poll. The survey shows that 71 percent of those who get insurance through their employer are worried about losing it, and 95 percent of them are unsatisfied with the cost of medical care. Sixty-one percent reported that the cost of their employer-sponsored insurance has gone up in recent years.
Out-of-pocket costs were substantial for most of the respondents. According to the survey, 46 percent of people spent between $1,000 and $5,000 of their own money last year on medical bills and 17 percent spent more than $5,000.
The AFL-CIO partnered with eight other national unions, a number of state and local labor federations and national liberal advocacy groups to promote participation in the survey, which ran from January to March. The union contracted with the polling firm Peter D. Hart Research Associates to collect and present the findings.
Unlike most national unions, the AFL-CIO has not endorsed a presidential candidate. The union’s local affiliates have mostly split between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), each of whom have significant support from organized labor.
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