Bulletin Poll: Health Behaviors

What is the source of your health insurance? (Overall)
Provided by my current employer   35%
Provided by my spouse’s current employer   13%
Retiree benefit from my former employer   4%
Retiree benefit from my spouse’s former employer   2%
Individually purchased health insurance   10%
Medicaid   5%
Medicare   20%
Veterans Administration/ Military   2%
I do not have insurance   6%
Don’t know   3%
Refused   1%

How confident are you that you will be able to afford medical care next year?
Extremely confident   30%
Very confident   27%
Somewhat confident   22%
Not very confident   9%
Not at all confident   7%

We have heard many people say that they have had to cut back on a number of things recently because of the current downturn in the economy. Which of the following have you done? (Overall, 45-54, 55-64, 65+)
Cut back on medical care   14%, 17%, 15%, 9%
Decided not to fill a prescription   14%, 12%, 17%, 12%
Skipped a dose or took less than prescribed   15%, 15%, 16%, 15%
Taken a generic or over-the-counter medication instead of brand-name Rx drug   51%, 49%, 47%, 56%
Asked a drug manufacturer or drugstore about their prescription assistance plan   11%, 8%, 10%, 15%
Sought assistance in getting Rx at lower cost   21%, 18%, 17%, 29%
Delayed seeing a doctor or other medical professional   22%, 25%, 25%, 15%
Cut back on preventive care   16%, 19%, 21%, 9%
Cut back on other expenses   21%, 25%, 18%, 17%
Had to use some savings to pay for health care   16%, 13%, 20%, 16%

Has financial stress caused you any health problems?   (Overall)
Yes   20%
No   78%
Don’t know/ Refused   2%

Would you say that cutting back on medical care has had a negative effect on your health? (asked of one-eighth of the sample)
Yes   17%
No   49%
Don’t know/ Refused   5%

Survey of 820 adults age 45 and older conducted by ICR between Oct. 23 and Oct. 29, 2008.