NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Survey: The Public on Requiring Individuals to Have Health Insurance

For immediate release: Friday, February 29, 2008

Boston, MA -- This survey conducted jointly by NPR and public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health examines how the public views different approaches for expanding health coverage, including provisions that would require individuals to purchase insurance or parents to obtain coverage for their children. The survey looks at whether or not the public supports such provisions, the major reasons behind their views, and how opinions differ among Democrats, Republicans and independents.

A nationally representative sample of 1,704 adults participated in telephone interviews from Feb. 14-24, 2008. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample.

This survey is part of a series of projects about health-related issues by NPR, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Representatives of the three organizations worked together to develop the survey questionnaire and to analyze the results, with NPR maintaining editorial control over its broadcasts on the surveys.

For full survey results -- summary, chartpack and toplines see the KFF website

NPR coverage 

Contact:
Robin Herman
Harvard School of Public Health
rherman@hsph.harvard.edu
(617) 432-4752

Craig Palosky
Kaiser Family Foundation
cpalosky@kff.org
(202) 347-5270

 
Harvard School of Public Health is dedicated to advancing the public's health through learning, discovery, and communication. More than 400 faculty members are engaged in teaching and training the 1,000-plus student body in a broad spectrum of disciplines crucial to the health and well being of individuals and populations around the world. Programs and projects range from the molecular biology of AIDS vaccines to the epidemiology of cancer; from risk analysis to violence prevention; from maternal and children's health to quality of care measurement; from health care management to international health and human rights. For more information on the school visit: www.hsph.harvard.edu