Do consumers support patients' rights?

According to a survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, most Americans will favor a comprehensive patients' bill of rights, however, that also means higher premiums, which is the key issue for many American families.

When potential consequences are raised, enthusiasm for legislation like this declines dramatically. The telephone survey found that 81 percent of 1,205 insured adults ages 18 to 64 support the patients' bill of rights but do not wish to pay higher premiums.

A $20 increase per month decreased this enthusiasm down to 58 percent. When they were told that due to the fears of being sued, employers might stop offering health insurers o workers, this enthusiasm fell down to 34 percent of consumers.

Consumers also claim that they simply don't know enough about the legislation proposed by congress in order to make decisions and proper and well-educated opinions.

Robert J. Blendon, professor of health policy at the Harvard School of Public Health says, "After several years of Congressional debate, the public still supports a patients' bill of rights, but it's not their top priority and they are not focused on the details. Politicians are unlikely to be punished at the polls as long as a bill passes that has some right-to-sue provision.'

In the results below, you will be able to see what consumers find most important regarding this issue. 30 percent, the majority of the people who were surveyed found that the number one priority when it came to health care were the high premiums. Only 7 percent, the smallest amount, said that the coverage was more important. Here are the other results:

Helping families with the cost of long term care - 13 percent
 
Helping the uninsured get the necessary coverage - 13 percent

Making Medicare financially sound - 13 percent

Making prescription drug coverage more affordable for seniors - 15 percent

Without the right to sue, half of the consumers would not consider it a "real' patients' bill of rights. As you can see the right to sue is in high demand amongst consumers. Maybe it's because these consumers fear that without the right to sue, they won't have the opportunity to fairly resolve an issue without the court.

Consumers worry about one thing when it comes to purchasing health insurance and forming a policy with the right coverage - the price. The price is the number one issue because of the modern day expenses. However,  it isn't right to solely concentrate on getting a good price. Just because a plan is cheaper, doesn't mean that it is better.

What consumers don't know is that they can easily find a good deal with the right amount of coverage. Health insurance is probably the most important thing for families to have, which is why economizing and avoiding the right coverage isn't a good idea.