For Immediate Release

VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CARE REFORM OVERHAUL, NON-PARTISAN SURVEY FINDS

Covering Children Must be a Part of Any Health Care Reform Efforts

LOS ANGELES – Nearly seven in ten voters believe that California’s health care system is in need of a significant overhaul and overwhelmingly support major reforms, according to a new non-partisan survey conducted for The California Endowment by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies. At the same time, more than three-quarters of those surveyed (76%) insist that whatever actions are taken this year by the legislature and the governor to reform California’s health care system must include providing health care coverage to all children.

“The message from voters is loud and unambiguous,” said Dr. Robert K. Ross, a pediatrician and President and CEO of The California Endowment. “Voters believe the health care system should be significantly overhauled and that any actions taken by the legislature and the governor to enact reforms must include coverage for kids.”

According to the survey, an overwhelming majority of voters (68%) believe that California’s health care system is in need of either a significant overhaul or requires major changes. Less than a quarter of those surveyed (23%) believe only minor reforms are needed, with just six percent saying the current system is fine or does not require change. When asked specific questions about a wide array of health care concerns, three quarters of voters (76%) were either extremely or very concerned about children not having health care coverage, more than any of the other health concerns including the cost of healthcare.

At the same time, support for the basic concept of ensuring all kids have coverage is even higher. Fully 82 percent of registered voters argue that all children should be covered. Most striking, support for ensuring all kids cut across geographic areas, partisan and ideological boundaries, with Democrats (93%), Independents (86%) and Republicans (67%) voicing their support. When broken down by geographic region, support for ensuring that all kids in California have health care coverage remained very high. More than four in five voters in the Bay Area (87%), Los Angeles County (86%), Sacramento/North Valley (82%), and Central and Greater Central Valley (81%) expressed strong support, with San Diego support registering 73 percent.

Voter support for the basic concept of covering all kids also transferred to a more detailed proposal. Almost three quarters of voters support a specific proposal about how to obtain health insurance for all children. When told that the cost to expand and improve coverage would be about $330 million and that the cost would be shared by parents, employers and government, including existing federal health are dollars, 73 percent of voters support the plan, with 42 percent of voters extremely supportive. When asked a similar question in May 2006, 67 percent of voters supported the plan, with 27 percent extremely supportive.

About The California Endowment

The California Endowment was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well-being of the people of California. For more information, or to view a copy of the survey, please visit The Endowment’s Web site at www.calendow.org.

About the Survey

The statewide survey was conducted from April 17-26, 2007 by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, in conjunction with Public Opinion Strategies, by telephone among 1,000 registered California voters. The survey’s weighted margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.