U.S. poll reveals healthcare concerns

Nearly half of U.S. adults polled said healthcare was one of the top three election year issues, a Deloitte Development poll released Tuesday said.

While 79 percent said they thought it was a critical issue, 46 percent said it was an issue that would affect the way they voted.

Of the 3,031 adults polled with an online survey on Sept. 10-23, more than half -- 66 percent -- claimed to favor state-mandated health insurance, while a smaller number -- 52 percent -- claimed they understood their insurance coverage, the report said.

The 2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers, revealed that 1-in-3 U.S. citizens said they wanted more holistic approaches to healthcare and 84 percent said they preferred generic to brand name drugs.

Many of those polled came out in favor of taking greater control of their healthcare needs, including 60 percent who said they favored having medical records available online.

A significant percentage of consumers modified a treatment recommendation, used alternative and non-conventional modes of care, and sought information to assist in decision-making in the last 24 months, the report said.

The poll data carried a margin of error of 1.8 percentage points.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International