March 1, 2000

Results from a poll conducted in March of 2000 indicate that a majority of individuals are satisfied with their healthcare coverage and do not promote or favor lawsuits as a means of improving the current level of care.

For example:

• Sixty-four percent (64%) of those HMO respondents surveyed favor a proposal that would give HMO patients the right to a quick, independent review any time there is a disagreement about medical care by their health plan rather than a proposal that would give HMO patients the right to sue their health plan for an unlimited amount if there is a disagreement about medical coverage.
• Sixty-six percent (66%) of all respondents and 62% of HMO respondents agree that the primary impact of lawsuits (against HMO's) will be to drive up the cost of health care for everyone because insurance companies will lust pass those costs on to the customers,
• Sixty percent (60%) of all respondents and 66% of HMO respondents agree that opening up HMO's to punitive damages lawsuits will have a chilling effect on businesses and many may decide not to provide health insurance to employees because they will not be able to afford it.
• Seventy-three (73%) of all respondents and 77% all HMO respondents agree that a quick, independent review when there is a dispute is better than a lawsuit because the review would be a fast, fair and efficient way to get the necessary medical treatment and that lawsuits that provide for punitive damages are not a fast, fair or efficient way to receive the necessary medical treatment.
• And finally, 53% of all respondents and 60% of HMO respondents disagree that HMO's ought to be sued because they provide terrible care and the threat of lawsuits is the only way to make them shape up.