The Impact of High Iowa Health Insurance Premiums & Health Care Costs

Survey of Iowa Consumers and the Impact of Health Care Cost Increases on Iowans and the Iowa Economy

The Iowa Department of Public Health commissioned Selzer & Company to assist in broadening its understanding of how rising health care costs, including health insurance premium costs, affect Iowans and the overall Iowa economy. Between July 7th and July 12th, 2005, 1202 Iowa residents age 18 to 64 were interviewed about attitudes toward health insurance. The results of the survey have been used by economists John E. Schneider of the University of Iowa and Christopher S. Decker of the University of Nebraska at Omaha to analyze the regional economic impact of increases in health care expenditures on Iowa households.

This report is divided into several parts. We begin with a brief overview summarizing the key findings, followed by a more detailed discussion, including relevant tables. The last section of the report presents the economic analysis of the effects on households of increasing health care costs. A tabulated questionnaire showing topline percentage responses for each question follows the body of the report, along with more detailed profile tables and methodological descriptions.