Americans concerned about rising costs and declining quality

THE NATION'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM needs to be completely overhauled. That's the view of an astounding 95 percent of those who responded to the AFL-CIO's Healthcare for America survey this year. Nearly 27,000 people—including 1,600 AFT members—completed the online survey, and more than 7,000 submitted personal stories about their own healthcare woes.

Among them was Melissa, an AFT member from Oregon, who wrote: "I'm currently over $5,000 in debt due to an overnight hospital stay in November of 2007. My doctor sent me to the emergency room due to tachycardia, and the resulting tests and observation put me in a deep financial hole. Ironically, my employer of 17 years finally started offering its employees insurance, six weeks after my hospital stay." In her view, health coverage shouldn't "have anything to do with employment status."

The survey, completed by union members as well as nonmembers, shows Melissa is far from alone. Among the findings:

• In the past year, 76 percent of people who lack insurance themselves, and 71 percent of people with uninsured children, say someone in their family did not visit a doctor when sick because of cost.
• Sixty-seven percent of the uninsured and 66 percent of those whose children are uninsured report skipping medical treatment or follow-up care recommended by a doctor.
• Fifty-seven percent of the uninsured and 61 percent of people with uninsured children had to choose between paying for medical care and other essential needs, such as rent.
• About 96 percent of insured respondents say they worry about being able to afford coverage during the next few years.