Global Health Policy

The February Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds Americans are divided on possible changes to the current health care system with 36 percent of Americans saying policymakers should build on the existing law to improve affordability and access to care, 16 percent saying they would like to see the health care law repealed and not replaced, 13 percent saying the current law should be repealed and replaced with a Republican-sponsored alternative, and 24 percent saying the U.S. should establish guaranteed universal coverage through a single government plan. When asked specifically about universal coverage through a single government plan, half say they favor the idea while 43 percent say they oppose it, and some opinions swayed after hearing counterarguments. Opinions also differ depending on the terms used to describe the idea of expanding health insurance coverage to all Americans. This month’s poll also examine awareness and attitudes of the top health policy news stories- the unsafe lead levels in Flint Michigan’s water and the Zika virus outbreak.

In advance of the 2016 presidential election, the August Kaiser Health Tracking Poll examines what health care issues voters would most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about during their campaigns and which candidate voters trust to do a better job of dealing with certain health care issues. In addition, the August Tracking Poll continues KFF’s analysis on attitudes related to the Zika virus outbreak as well as provides an update on attitudes towards electronic health records.