Survey: Concern rises over access to health care

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers’ confidence about their health-care future and access to care is dropping, particularly among seniors, as debate over President Barack Obama’s health-overhaul agenda grows more contentious.

A monthly survey of consumer sentiment on health-care issues shows that Americans’ confidence in insurance coverage, affordability and access dropped more than 5 points in July, after having risen slightly in June.

Among seniors eligible for Medicare, the drop was even more striking — 10.4 points — suggesting the health-care debate is raising alarm bells for older Americans. The survey was conducted even before coverage of raucous town-hall meetings that highlighted public opposition to Democrats’ health-overhaul plans.

The health-care consumer confidence index is compiled by the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports health-care reform. It uses people’s responses to a series of questions — such as whether they’re worried about affording prescription drugs — to determine an overall confidence score.

The overall score for July was 97.2, down from 102.3 in June. The highest possible score is 200, the lowest zero.