Reason-Rupe: In Addressing Health Care Needs, More Americans Trust Health Insurance Companies Than Government

The recent national Reason-Rupe poll finds that 9 percent of Americans have a high level of trust in government in addressing their health care needs, compared to 27 percent who have a high level of trust in their health insurance companies. 26 percent of Americans report high levels of trust in their employer, and 46 percent in their hospital for addressing their health care needs.

In contrast, majorities of Americans place high levels of trust in their doctors (67 percent), pharmacists (56 percent), and themselves (76 percent) in addressing their health care needs.

Government was the only entity to receive greater low levels of trust than high levels of trust.

 

This may help explain the 50 percent of Americans with an unfavorable opinion of the new health care law passed by Congress in 2010, since much of the public debate over the law has focused on the role of government, health insurance companies, and employers in providing care, and less on the role of individuals and doctors.

Please rate on a scale of 1-7 the following things according to the level of trust you have in each in addressing your health care needs. With 7 indicating a high level of trust, 1 indicating a low level of trust, and 4 being neutral. The first one is…

 

Full poll results found here.

Nationwide telephone poll conducted March 10th-20th of both mobile and landline phones, 1200 adults, margin of error +/- 3 percent. Columns may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. Full methodology can be found here. 

Emily Ekins is the director of polling for Reason Foundation where she leads the Reason-Rupe public opinion research project, launched in 2011. Follow her on Twitter @emilyekins.