New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option

A new poll released today by Latino Decisions, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico (UNM-RWJF Center), and impreMedia, shows a widespread consensus among the Latino/Hispanic electoral about the importance of health care reform and indicates significant support for expansion of coverage. For the first time health care tops the list of national issues identified by respondents, as the most important issue Congress and the President need to address. This is particularly impressive, given that in April 2009 a similar Latino Decisions poll found that only 6% of the Latino electorate had identified health care as the most important issue.

The national survey of 1,000 Latino registered voters shows that there is broad-based and overwhelming support not just for health care reform, but 74% support a plan that includes a public option to compete with private insurance programs, 67% say health care should be made available regardless of citizenship or legal residency, and 61% would still like to see universal health care. “This poll suggests that a bill with the public option that also provides access to those who are non-citizens will be looked upon favorably by the Latino electorate,” said Gabriel Sanchez of the UNM-RWJF Center.

The survey of those polled also found, that despite Latinos being heavily courted by the candidates for their support during the presidential elections, a large segment (44%) of the Latino population feels that their needs have not been taken into account during the national health care debate. “Lawmakers will once again tackle healthcare reform when they return to Washington after the Thanksgiving recess, and this poll strongly suggests that they have to do a much better job of addressing the needs of the nation’s fastest growing electorate,” said Latino Decisions Investigator, Matt Barreto.

“We are at a historic moment when real healthcare reform is possible and Latinos want to see Congress take action,” said Monica Lozano, SVP of impreMedia. “How much they take these into account will be important as we move into the mid-term elections of 2010,” said Lozano.

The executive summary of the poll results is available online at: http://healthpolicy.unm.edu/sites/default/files/Executive Summary_Survey of Latino registered voters on Health Care Reform.pdf

The top-line results from the survey are available online at: http://healthpolicy.unm.edu/sites/default/files/RESULTS_Survey of Latino registered voters on Health Care Reform.pdf

The demographic profile of those surveyed can be found online at: http://healthpolicy.unm.edu/sites/default/files/Demographic Profile_Survey of Latino registered voters on Health Care Reform.pdf

In the coming weeks, the UNM-RWJF Center for Health Policy will be producing a detailed research brief providing further analysis of some key findings from this survey. Please visit http://healthpolicy.unm.edu for further updates.

Methodology

Latino Decisions / UNM-RWJF Center / impreMedia Survey of Latino Registered Voters on Health Care Reform

In November 2009 Latino Decisions fielded a national survey of Latino registered voters on issues related to health care reform. Latino Decisions partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico, and impreMedia, and all phone calls were administered by Pacific Market Research in Renton, WA. The poll was overseen by Drs. Matt Barreto and Gary Segura, experts in Latino public opinion. A total of 1,000 Latino registered voters were interviewed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%. Latino registered voters were identified through a Spanish surname match against the statewide list of registered voters in 21 states*. Latino Decisions selected the top 21 states with the highest number of Latino registered voters, and taken together, they account for over 90% of the Latino electorate. Telephone calls were conducted in English and Spanish, at the discretion of the respondent, and all respondents who were interviewed self identified as Latino or Hispanic and registered to vote. Overall, 54% of respondents were born in the United States, 39% were foreign born, and 6% born in Puerto Rico and 65% of interviews were completed in English and 35% in Spanish. The survey was approximately 22 minutes long, and was fielded from November 1 – November 16, 2009. For more information, please visit www.latinodecisions.com or call 877-271-2300.

About Latino Decisions

Latino Decisions is a joint effort between Pacific Market Research, a nationally known research firm, and Dr. Gary Segura and Dr. Matt Barreto, leading Latino politics scholars and professors at Stanford University and the University of Washington. Both Dr. Segura and Dr. Barreto are experienced and nationally respected researchers who have a deep understanding of U.S. Latino culture and advanced quantitative research skills. Their expertise, coupled with Pacific Market Research’s logistical capabilities, makes Latino Decisions a leader in the field. For more information, please visit www.latinodecisions.com or call 877-271-2300.

About RWJF Center for Health Policy

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico is the only health policy center dedicated to increasing the number of leaders from Latino and American Indian communities helping to shape the future of our nation’s health and health care. A collaboration of the University of New Mexico and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the RWJF Center for Health Policy focuses on inserting the perspectives of Latino, American Indian and other underrepresented groups into the most pressing health policy debates today. Visit http://healthpolicy.unm.edu for further information.

About ImpreMedia

ImpreMedia is the No. 1 Hispanic News and Information Company in the U.S. in Online and Print. ImpreMedia’s multi-platform offerings range from Online to Video, Mobile and Print and encompass 27 properties, including the portal http://www.impre.com and its McClatchy partners. 30% of all U.S. Hispanic adults use an impreMedia product. The company is also the nation’s largest Hispanic newspaper publisher with newspapers in the top 7 U.S. Hispanic markets, reaching 16 markets total that represent 63% of the U.S. Hispanic population. Its leading publications include La Opinión in Los Angeles and El Diario La Prensa in New York. For more information, visit: http://www.impremedia.com.

ImpreMedia portals and publication websites are: www.impre.com, www.laopinion.com, www.eldiariony.com, www.hoynyc.com, www.laraza.com, www.laprensafl.com, www.elmensajero.com, www.rumbonet.com, www.vistamagazine.com, and www.contigola.com, www.lavibra.com, www.impreautos.com.

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