New Research Highlights Concern Among Nevada Voters Over Rising Health Care Costs

By Consumers for Quality Care, on July 27, 2022

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2022

Contact:
Press@Consumers4QualityCare.org

New Research Highlights Concern Among Nevada Voters Over Rising Health Care Costs

 

73% of Nevada Voters Say the Costs of Health Care are Going up More than Other Things They Need

 

Carson City, Nevada – A new survey of Nevada voters from Impact Research and the Mellman Group, on behalf of Consumers for Quality Care (CQC), reveals voters see high out-of-pocket costs as the biggest issue in the state’s health care system. Nevadans are ready to support politicians who make lowering out-of-pocket costs a priority. Read more about the survey here.

“Nevadans are tired of insurance companies nickel and diming them with all the out-of-pocket costs they have to pay,” said the Hon. Donna Christensen, CQC board member, physician, and former Member of Congress. “Rising deductibles, premiums, and other out-of-pocket costs when they go to their doctor, the hospital or the pharmacy are reasons why so many patients are plagued with thousands of dollars in medical debt and find themselves skipping or delaying the care they need. It’s time for insurance to act like insurance and for our lawmakers to prioritize lowering costs and improving access to quality care.”

Nevadans’ number one concern when it comes to health care is that out-of-pocket costs are too high, and deductibles are the costs that people struggle with the most, followed by monthly premiums. Eighty-seven percent of Nevada voters believe it is more important now than ever that insurance cover mental health care, but more than half (59%) think it is difficult to find mental health providers that are affordable or covered by insurance.

More insights from the research include:

• 73% agree that the costs of health care are going up more than other things they need.
• By more than a 3-to-1 margin, voters’ main concern in health care is that out-of-pocket costs are too high (35%).
• Less than half of voters (47%) would rate the way things are going with people having access to affordable health care in the state positively.
• Deductibles are the biggest specific pain point when it comes to cost (34%), especially for those with private insurance (43%).
• Half of voters (50%) have either had their household finances seriously affected by medical debt or are close with someone who has.
• 59% of voters agree it’s difficult to find mental health providers that are covered by insurance.

Nevadans want their elected officials to take action to lower out-of-pocket health care costs. More than 7-in-10 voters (73%) say they are more likely to support a candidate who makes reducing health care costs their top priority, including strong majorities of persuadable voters (66%) and Independents (63%).

When it comes to lowering health care costs, Arizona voters think the following measures would be effective:

• Capping insurance deductibles at a level that is low enough that people don’t go into debt when getting the health care they need (67%).
• Capping the amount health insurers can charge patients overall (63%).
• Requiring health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers to pass the rebates or discounts they receive from drug companies on to patients (73%).

The survey also reveals that too many Navadans lack confidence that they can get quality care in the state and find it difficult to get an appointment. By over 3 to 1, Nevadans think healthcare in Nevada is worse than the rest of the country (35%), with only 12% believing Nevada’s healthcare is better. Thirty-eight percent (38%) find it difficult to get a primary care appointment, with 38% waiting over a month for their appointment date.  Specialty care is even tougher.

“Across political parties, Nevadans want lawmakers to prioritize reducing health care costs,” said Mark Mellman, president of The Mellman Group. “It’s not at all surprising that this is a key issue in such a hotly-contested political environment. Out-of-pocket costs is the biggest concern Nevadans have with the health care system, but access to quality care and the ability to get timely appointments for primary or specialty care are also serious challenges in the state.”

The Impact Research/Mellman Group poll on behalf of CQC was conducted June 21-26, 2022. The online survey sampled 600 registered voters in Nevada. Overall results were weighted to reflect the composition of registered voters in the state.

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About Consumers for Quality Care

Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) is a coalition of advocates and former policymakers working to provide a voice for patients in the health care debate as they demand better care. CQC is led by a board of directors that includes the Honorable Donna Christensen, physician and former Member of Congress; Jim Manley, former senior advisor to Senators Edward Kennedy and Harry Reid; Jason Resendez, community advocate and health care strategist; and Mary L. Smith, former CEO of Indian Health Service.