New NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Survey: Health care and the economy in two swing states

For immediate release: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Boston, MA –Two new surveys by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health examine the pocketbook problems facing people in two presidential swing states, Ohio and Florida, including their struggles with gas prices, getting and keeping a well-paying job and affording health care. NPR is reporting findings from the surveys in its programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered  beginning today.

The surveys, Health Care and the Economy in Two Swing States: A Look at Ohio and Florida, also take an in-depth look at the impact of medical bills on family finances and health care and provide insights into the way health care costs affect people’s daily life decisions. The polls were conducted jointly by NPR and public opinion researchers at Kaiser and Harvard.

The telephone surveys involved statewide representative samples of 1,358 adults in Florida and 1,201 adults in Ohio and were conducted between May 21 and June 4. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample in each survey. For subgroups, the margin of error may be higher.

These surveys are a 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.

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

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

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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:https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/.