When it comes to casting ballots this November, Americans are more likely to base voting decisions upon basic health issues such as the cost of healthcare services and health insurance, according to a new study from Kaiser Family Foundation.
Kaiser Family Foundation took the pulse on how health issues will affect Americans' presidential voting decisions this year. Despite the ongoing debate between Republican lawmakers and President Barack Obama on the future of the 2010 healthcare law, the January Kaiser Health Tracking poll found the Affordable Care Act to be one of many health concerns affecting voting decisions.
The poll was conducted Jan. 13-19 among a representative sample of 1,204 American adults.
Below are five statistics from the survey:
1. Americans ranked concerns about the cost of their healthcare and health insurance as the third most important factor (28 percent) in their presidential voting decision.
2. Participants cited terrorism (38 percent) and the economy and jobs (34 percent) as the top two issues affecting their presidential vote.
3. When reporting specific health issues that will affect presidential voting decisions, 56 percent said the cost of healthcare, health insurance and prescription drugs, 54 percent said Medicare and 51 percent said the future of the Affordable Care Act.
4. Roughly 64 percent of respondents said the single most important health issue was the cost of healthcare, health insurance and prescription drugs.
5. However, Americans overall reported being satisfied with their insurance coverage. About seven in 10 of those with insurance under the age of 65 said the healthcare services they receive are an excellent or good value for what patients pay.