CCMC/Herndon Women and ACA Survey

August 2011
800 likely voters nationwide (400 men and 400 women) with an oversample of 200 women

7.

Now I am going to read you a list of health care services covered by the new health care reform
law, the Affordable Care Act. Does including each service as part of insurance coverage make
you more or less favorable toward the new health care reform law, using a 0 to 10 scale where a
0 means you are much less favorable and a 10 means you are much more favorable. A 5 means
it makes no difference to you. You can use any number between 0 and 10.
[Every third item ask: Does including this service as part of insurance coverage make you
more or less favorable toward the new health reform law, using a 0 to 10 scale where a 0
means you are much less favorable and a 10 means you are much more favorable. A 5
means it makes no difference to you. You can use any number between 0 and 10.]

A.
[Split Sample A] No deductible and no co-pay for basic preventive care for women and their
families.
Mean...........................................................7.0
....................................................................6.5
....................................................................7.6
10 - Much more favorable.............................39
.....................................................................31
....................................................................46
8 - 9..............................................................19
.....................................................................20
....................................................................17
6 - 7..............................................................10
.....................................................................10
....................................................................10
5 - Neutral.....................................................12
.....................................................................15
......................................................................9
0 - 4 - Less favorable....................................19
.....................................................................24
....................................................................14
(Don't know) 2
1
4
A.

[Split Sample B] No deductibles and no co-pays on contraception and birth control

Mean...........................................................5.7
....................................................................5.2
....................................................................6.2
10 - Much more favorable.............................27
.....................................................................25
....................................................................29

8 - 9..............................................................13
......................................................................11
....................................................................15
6 - 7..............................................................10
.......................................................................8
.....................................................................11
5 - Neutral.....................................................18
.....................................................................17
....................................................................19
0 - 4 - Less favorable....................................30
.....................................................................37
....................................................................24
(Don't know).................................................3
.......................................................................2
......................................................................3
B.

[Split Sample A] Birth control and contraception at no cost

Mean...........................................................6.2
....................................................................5.6
....................................................................6.7
10 - Much more favorable.............................34
.....................................................................29
....................................................................39
8 - 9..............................................................13
.....................................................................12
....................................................................13
6 - 7..............................................................10
.....................................................................10
......................................................................9
5 - Neutral.....................................................13
.....................................................................13
....................................................................13
0 - 4 - Less favorable....................................28
.....................................................................35
....................................................................22
(Don't know).................................................2
.......................................................................1
......................................................................3

C.

[Split Sample B] Birth control and contraception at no additional cost

Mean...........................................................6.0
....................................................................5.2
....................................................................6.7
10 - Much more favorable.............................31
.....................................................................24
....................................................................37
8 - 9..............................................................15
.....................................................................14
....................................................................16
6 - 7..............................................................10
......................................................................11
....................................................................10

5 - Neutral.....................................................13
.....................................................................12
....................................................................15
0 - 4 - Less favorable....................................29
.....................................................................37
....................................................................21
(Don't know).................................................2
.......................................................................3
......................................................................2
Some/ other people say free contraceptives is another government mandate and now we have
government micro-managing people's health care.
OR
Some/other people say birth control is basic preventive care because it respects others to make
important life decisions and gives people more options over when and whether to have children.
Which statement is closer to your own views? [If statement 1 or 2 ask: Is that much closer or
only somewhat closer to your own views]
Much closer - government mandate ...........28
.....................................................................33
....................................................................24
Somewhat closer - government mandate .....7
.......................................................................8
......................................................................6
Somewhat closer - decisions and options ...17
.....................................................................17
....................................................................17
Much closer - decisions and options ...........39
.....................................................................34
....................................................................44
Neither ..........................................................4
.......................................................................5
......................................................................4
Both ..............................................................1
.......................................................................0
......................................................................1
(Don't know) ................................................3
.......................................................................3
......................................................................4
Government mandate.................................35
.....................................................................41
.....................................................................30
Decisions and options...............................56
.....................................................................51
.....................................................................60

12.

[SPLIT SAMPLE A] Some/ other people say that the coverage of birth control goes too far and
will lead to abuse, overuse, and some irresponsible behavior.
OR
Some/ other people say covering contraception with no co-pay promotes taking responsibility,
gives people more options, and respects women's personal decisions.
Which statement is closer to your own views? [If Statement 1 or 2 ask: Is that much closer or
only somewhat closer to your own views?]
Much closer - lead to abuse ........................23
.....................................................................26
....................................................................21
Somewhat closer - lead to abuse ...............10
......................................................................11
......................................................................9
Somewhat closer - promotes taking
responsibility ...............................................16
.....................................................................16
....................................................................15
Much closer - promotes taking responsibility
.....................................................................41
.....................................................................38
....................................................................44
Neither ..........................................................4
.......................................................................5
......................................................................4
Both .............................................................1
.......................................................................1
......................................................................2
(Don't know) ................................................5
.......................................................................4
......................................................................5
Lead to abuse.............................................33
.....................................................................36
.....................................................................30
Promotes taking responsibility.................57
.....................................................................54
.....................................................................59

13.

[SPLIT SAMPLE B]
Some/ other people say that the coverage of birth control goes too far and will lead to abuse,
overuse, and some irresponsible behavior.
OR
Some/ other people say covering contraception services helps families and businesses save
money in these tough economic times and reduces the excess profits of insurance companies.
Which statement is closer to your own views?
[If Statement 1 or 2 ask: Is that much closer or only somewhat closer to your own views?]
Much closer - lead to abuse ........................30
.....................................................................30
....................................................................29
Somewhat closer - lead to abuse .................9
.......................................................................9
......................................................................8
Somewhat closer - helps families and
businesses ..................................................19
.....................................................................18
....................................................................20
Much closer - helps families and businesses
.....................................................................32
.....................................................................31
....................................................................33
Both ..............................................................3
.......................................................................3
......................................................................2
Neither ..........................................................4
.......................................................................5
......................................................................3
(Don't know) ................................................4
.......................................................................3
......................................................................6
Lead to abuse.............................................38
.....................................................................39
.....................................................................37
Helps families and businesses..................51
.....................................................................49
.....................................................................52

14.

[SPLIT SAMPLE A]
Some/ other people say coverage of so-called contraception services for free is a back door way
to have tax payers pay for abortion-inducing drugs.
OR
Some/ other people say coverage of birth control and contraception services with no co-pay helps
prevent unintended pregnancies and reduces the need for abortions.
Which statement is closer to your own views?
[If statement 1 or 2 ask: Is that much closer or only somewhat closer to your own views]
Much more - back door to taxpayer funded
abortions .....................................................23
.....................................................................27
....................................................................19
Somewhat more - back door to taxpayer
funded abortions .........................................10
.......................................................................9
....................................................................10
Somewhat more - reduces need for abortions
.....................................................................15
.....................................................................12
....................................................................17
Much more - reduces need for abortions ....42
.....................................................................41
....................................................................43
Neither ..........................................................6
.......................................................................7
......................................................................5
Both ..............................................................1
.......................................................................0
......................................................................2
(Don't know) ................................................3
.......................................................................3
......................................................................3
Back door to taxpayer funded abortions..32
.....................................................................36
.....................................................................29
Reduces need for abortions......................57
.....................................................................53
.....................................................................61

15.

[SPLIT SAMPLE B]
Some/ other people say coverage of so-called contraception services for free is a back door way
to have tax payers pay for abortion-inducing drugs.
OR
Some/ other people say coverage of birth control and contraception services helps and respects
women to make their own personal decisions and gives them more options about when and
whether to have children.
Which statement is closer to your own views?
[If statement 1 or 2 ask: Is that much closer or only somewhat closer to your own views]
Much more - back door to taxpayer funded
abortions .....................................................27
.....................................................................34
....................................................................21
Somewhat more - back door to taxpayer
funded abortions ...........................................8
.......................................................................7
......................................................................9
Somewhat more - respects women to make
own decisions .............................................16
.....................................................................14
....................................................................17
Much more - respects women to make own
decisions .....................................................38
.....................................................................32
....................................................................45
Neither ..........................................................3
.......................................................................6
......................................................................2
Both ..............................................................2
.......................................................................1
......................................................................3
(Don't know) ...............................................4
.......................................................................5
......................................................................4
Back door to taxpayer funded abortions..36
.....................................................................42
.....................................................................30
Respects women to make own decisions 54
.....................................................................46
.....................................................................62

17.

Now I am going to read statements that people who oppose the new health care reform law have
made about the Affordable Care Act. Please tell me whether this statement is very convincing,
somewhat convincing, not too convincing or not at all convincing. If you are not sure, please say
so.
RANDOMIZE LIST
A. [Split sample A] [Religion] Requiring health insurers to cover contraceptives violates the rights
of people who belong to religions that don't believe in artificial contraception. The Catholic Church
morally opposes birth control and Orthodox Jews and some Protestants find birth control
objectionable. Forcing religious groups, individuals, health providers, and health plans to perform
or pay for a service that they may find morally objectionable is wrong.
Very convincing............................................24
.....................................................................26
....................................................................23
Somewhat convincing...................................18
.....................................................................17
....................................................................18
Not too convincing........................................18
.....................................................................20
....................................................................15
Not at all convincing......................................34
.....................................................................33
....................................................................36
(Not sure) ....................................................6
.......................................................................5
......................................................................7
Convincing..................................................42
.....................................................................42
.....................................................................42
Not convincing............................................52
.....................................................................53
.....................................................................51

18.

Now I am going to read statements that people who support the new health care reform law have
made about the Affordable Care Act. Please tell me whether this statement is very convincing,
somewhat convincing, not too convincing or not at all convincing. If you are not sure, please say
so.
RANDOMIZE LIST
A. [Split Sample A] [Broad Prevention] Starting this year, all new insurance plans must cover key
prevention services, like contraception, well-woman exams, and breast and cervical cancer
screenings, which many women have put off or sacrificed because of the cost involved. This will
save thousands of lives every year and bring down costs because it is far more effective to
prevent an unintended pregnancy and to detect cancer early. Covering preventive care as basic
health care, including family planning services, contraception, and birth control, is important to
good health care for women.

Very convincing............................................46
.....................................................................38
....................................................................53
Somewhat convincing...................................25
.....................................................................28
....................................................................22
Not too convincing........................................10
......................................................................11
......................................................................8
Not at all convincing......................................15
.....................................................................18
....................................................................12
(Not sure) ....................................................5
.......................................................................4
......................................................................6
Convincing..................................................70
.....................................................................66
.....................................................................74
Not convincing............................................25
.....................................................................30
.....................................................................20

B. [Split Sample B] [Women's Issue] Before health care reform, insurance companies could
discriminate against women by denying coverage to pregnant women, women who had Csections, or women who had survived domestic violence on the grounds that these were quote
"pre-existing conditions" end-quote. Health care reform makes these practices illegal, as well as
saying birth control and contraception services are basic elements of preventive care. Let's not
let a bunch of lobbyists and politicians allow insurance companies to discriminate against women
anymore.
Very convincing............................................38
.....................................................................31
....................................................................45
Somewhat convincing...................................29
.....................................................................29
....................................................................30
Not too convincing........................................12
.....................................................................16
......................................................................8
Not at all convincing......................................16
.....................................................................22
.....................................................................11
(Not sure) ....................................................4
.......................................................................2
......................................................................6
Convincing..................................................68
.....................................................................60
.....................................................................75
Not convincing............................................28
.....................................................................38
.....................................................................19
C. [Respect] We should respect people's ability to make important life decisions like when and if to
have a baby. The average American couple wants two children. This means the average woman
will spend three to five years of her life trying to get pregnant and the rest of her reproductive
years trying to prevent pregnancy. Providing insurance coverage of contraception will give women
the options they need to responsibly manage family planning throughout their lives.

Very convincing............................................38
.....................................................................33
....................................................................42
Somewhat convincing...................................27
.....................................................................26
....................................................................27
Not too convincing........................................13
.....................................................................15
.....................................................................11
Not at all convincing......................................19
.....................................................................23
....................................................................15
(Not sure) ....................................................4
.......................................................................4
......................................................................5
Convincing..................................................64
.....................................................................59
.....................................................................69
Not convincing............................................31
.....................................................................37
.....................................................................26

D. [Split Sample A] [Cost] Prevention saves dollars, which is why the new health reform law
requires coverage for preventive care, including contraception with no co-pays. Private insurance
coverage of contraception is cost effective. The National Business Group on Health estimated
that it saved employers about 15 percent when contraceptives were covered as well as saving
many families as much as $26 a month. Access to these basic and essential preventive services
for women will give hardworking families a greater sense of security, as well as real savings.
Very convincing............................................35
.....................................................................29
....................................................................40
Somewhat convincing...................................27
.....................................................................26
....................................................................27
Not too convincing........................................15
.....................................................................20
.....................................................................11
Not at all convincing......................................20
.....................................................................24
....................................................................17
(Not sure) ....................................................3
.......................................................................1
......................................................................5
Convincing..................................................62
.....................................................................56
.....................................................................67
Not convincing............................................36
.....................................................................44
.....................................................................28
E. [Split Sample B] [Cost 2] The new health reform law helps families by covering preventive
services, such as annual well-woman exams and birth control. This, along with the new health
reform laws' reduction in waste and fraud and its improvement in competition among health
insurance plans, gives us a real opportunity to save money on health care. Covering prevention
creates real savings for real people.

Very convincing............................................34
.....................................................................28
....................................................................39
Somewhat convincing...................................28
.....................................................................25
....................................................................31
Not too convincing........................................12
.....................................................................15
......................................................................9
Not at all convincing......................................20
.....................................................................26
....................................................................15
(Not sure) ....................................................5
.......................................................................5
......................................................................6
Convincing..................................................62
.....................................................................54
.....................................................................70
Not convincing............................................32
.....................................................................42
.....................................................................24

F.

[Split Sample A] [Secure/Congress with preventative] The new healthcare law will provide
basic preventive services including birth control, and make health care coverage more secure by
ensuring that working families cannot be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition, or lose
their coverage or be forced into bankruptcy when someone gets sick. It will also require that
members of Congress get their health care coverage from the same plans as millions of
Americans.
Very convincing............................................43
.....................................................................36
....................................................................51
Somewhat convincing...................................28
.....................................................................29
....................................................................27
Not too convincing........................................11
.....................................................................14
......................................................................9
Not at all convincing......................................14
.....................................................................18
......................................................................9
(Not sure) ....................................................4
.......................................................................3
......................................................................5
Convincing..................................................71
.....................................................................65
.....................................................................77
Not convincing............................................25
.....................................................................32
.....................................................................18

G. [Split Sample B] [Secure/Congress with no co-pay] The new healthcare law will provide basic
preventive health care and women's health services with no co-pay, and make health care
coverage more secure by ensuring that working families cannot be denied coverage due to a preexisting condition, or lose their coverage or be forced into bankruptcy when someone gets sick. It
will also require that members of Congress get their health care coverage from the same plans as
millions of Americans.

Very convincing............................................48
.....................................................................45
....................................................................50
Somewhat convincing...................................26
.....................................................................23
....................................................................29
Not too convincing..........................................8
.......................................................................9
......................................................................8
Not at all convincing......................................14
.....................................................................20
......................................................................9
(Not sure) ....................................................3
.......................................................................3
......................................................................4
Convincing..................................................74
.....................................................................69
.....................................................................79
Not convincing............................................23
.....................................................................29
.....................................................................17

Support for the Affordable Care Act

Informed Views:
After hearing information about a number of health care services offered under the ACA, voters
support the new reform law by 20 points. Promoting the services to women is the single most
important thing to do. These services set up the messages and tap into key values for women.
After this information, a quarter of voters move toward favoring the new law. These shifters are
more likely to be under age 40, non college grads, particularly older non college grads, voters
who lean Democratic, Latinos, non religiously affiliated, those without health insurance, and
voters in the West, particularly Pacific men.

Coverage of birth control is popular, though on a second tier overall. It is a first tier service for
women under 40, along with prenatal care.

Positioning the Affordable Care Act

Voters also reject the oppositions argument that covering birth control will lead to abuse,
overuse and irresponsible behavior. Saying that covering contraception promotes
responsibility, provides options, and respects womens personal decisions soundly beats this
attack and works with both men and women. This is especially strong with independent women.
This works much better than an argument that pivots to cost.
Voters reject the assertion that covering contraception is a back door way of funding
abortion-inducing drugs. The stronger response to this attack focuses on coverage with no copay helping to prevent unintended pregnancies and reducing the need for abortion. This
response leads by double digits among both men and women. Women also respond well to a
response about how birth control respects women to make their own personal decisions;
however, this response is not as strong among men.