On the issue
of health care and HMOs, which would you be more likely to support:
A proposal that would give HMO patients the right to a quick independent review any
time there is a disagreement about medical care by their health plan
All Respondents.............59%
HMO Respondents.........64%
---OR---
A proposal that would give HMO patients the right to sue their health plan for an
unlimited amount if there is a disagreement about medical coverage..
All Respondents.............29%
HMO Respondents.........31%
There are groups that are pushing legislation to allow further
lawsuits against HMO. Currently, under Florida law, a person has
the right to sue an HMO to force the HMO to provide certain medical
services or when dissatisfied with their coverage. These additional
lawsuits would allow for punitive damages, known as pain and suffering
award.
Now I am going to read you some statements and arguments people are using when
discussing the plans to allow more lawsuits against HMOs. After I read each one, please
tell me how you feel... whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat
disagree, strongly disagree with each statement. Here's the first one:
The primary impact of lawsuits will be to drive up the cost of health care for everyone
because insurance companies will just pass those costs on to the customers.
ALL RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree.................43%
Somewhat agree.............23%
Somewhat disagree........12%
Strongly disagree.............17%
HMO RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree..................40%
Somewhat agree..............22%
Somewhat disagree.........13%
Strongly disagree.............13%
Opening up HMOs to punitive damages lawsuits will have a chilling
cost effect on businesses and many may decide not to provide health
insurance to employees because they will not be able to afford it.
ALL RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree.................35%
Somewhat agree............25%
Somewhat disagree.......16%
Strongly disagree............16%
HMO RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree.................39%
Somewhat agree.............27%
Somewhat disagree........16%
Strongly disagree.............14%
A quick, independent review when there is a dispute is better than
a lawsuit because the review would be a fast, fair and efficient
way to get the necessary medical treatment. Lawsuits that provide
for punitive damages are not a fast, fair or efficient way to receive
the necessary medical treatment.
ALL RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree.................47%
Somewhat agree............26%
Somewhat disagree.......9%
Strongly disagree............9%
HMO RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree...............50%
Somewhat agree...........27%
Somewhat disagree.......9%
Strongly disagree............8%
HMOs ought to be sued because they provide terrible care and the threat
of lawsuits is the only way to make them shape up.
ALL RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree.................22%
Somewhat agree............16%
Somewhat disagree.......23%
Strongly disagree...........30%
HMO RESPONDENTS
Strongly agree................18%
Somewhat agree...........15%
Somewhat disagree......25%
Strongly disagree..........35%
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