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Public Opinion

The following publications are a combination of relevant documents from the Center for Children and Families (CCF) and other organizations. Go to the Publications section for a list of all CCF documents. For research related to specific policy issues, including SCHIP reauthorization, see the Federal Policy section.

• Survey Brief: Economic Problems Facing Families
  Kaiser Family Foundation
  April 2008

  In this Survey Brief, the Kaiser Family Foundation takes a closer look at the public’s reports of how changes in the economy are affecting them and their families personally, with an in-depth look at reported problems accessing and paying for health care in particular. It finds that health care costs rank among Americans’ top personal economic problems, and their struggles to deal with those costs have affected both their financial well-being and their family’s health care.
  

• Health Care and Elections
  Kaiser Family Foundation
  April 2008

  In light of the upcoming presidential election, this Public Opinion Spotlight provides an examination of recent public opinion data and historical trends in order to give some insight into the role health care might play as an election issue. It analyzes the priority the public puts on health care issues as well as differences in views by party identification and age. In addition, it highlights several groups to watch in the 2008 presidential election, such as political independents, health-focused voters, and the uninsured.
  

• Public Views on SCHIP Reauthorization
  National Public Radio, Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health
  October 2007

  The survey, conducted in October 2007, assessed the public’s familiarity with the SCHIP debate, whether or not they support renewal and expansion of the program, and whom they believe should be eligible for health coverage through SCHIP. Given the basic parameters of the expansion—its cost, the number of new children who would be covered, and how it would be paid for—seven in 10 Americans said they backed the plan. Even when presented with the pros and cons, support stayed at 65%.  

• Public Perceptions of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
  Public Opinion Strategies and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  August 2007

  An August 2007, national survey of 900 registered likely voters found an overwhelming level of support (86%) for SCHIP reauthorization, even when respondents were told the costs (77% still favored reauthorization). There was also significant public support for expanding SCHIP to cover an additional four million uninsured children.

• New Bipartisan Survey Finds Americans Strongly Support Expanding SCHIP and Extending Health Coverage to More Uninsured Children
  Center for Children and Families
  July 2007

  A national survey conducted in June-July 2007 examines public opinion about SCHIP and proposed changes raised during its 2007 reauthorization. This issue brief details the survey findings, showing a strikingly high level of public and bipartisan support for covering children.

• Health Care Opinion Leaders' Views on Priorities for SCHIP Reauthorization
  Katherine Shea, Karen Davis, Anne Gauthier, Rachel Nuzum, and Barry Scho, Commonwealth Fund
  April 2007

  This survey highlights the perspectives of a diverse group of experts on issues related to the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 2007, showing widespread support for the program and its expansion to cover more low-income children. Most survey respondents, 91%, were in favor of allowing legal immigrant children who would be eligible based on income to participate in SCHIP. Other favored eligibility expansions include covering children in families with income up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level (88% of respondents) and permitting families above the eligibility level to “buy into" SCHIP coverage by paying a premium to cover the cost of benefits (82%).

• Election Survey Finds Broad Support for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program
  Center for Children and Families
  December 2006

  This issue brief reviews the results of a survey of 1,000 voters during the 2006-midterm elections (November 6-7, 2006) on their opinions about future funding for SCHIP. The results show that more than 8 in 10 voters want to increase spending and expand the number of children covered; while only a small percentage (14 percent) of those queried believe that the incoming Congress should maintain the current funding level.