MAJORITY (51%) OF CANADIANS SAY THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR NON-EMERGENCY TRIPS TO THE DOCTOR TO HELP FUND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

MAJORITY (51%) OF CANADIANS SAY THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR NON-EMERGENCY TRIPS TO THE DOCTOR TO HELP FUND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

ONE THIRD (31%) ARE WILLING TO PAY ROOM AND BOARD IN THE HOSPITAL

FOUR IN TEN (38%) ARE WILLING TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IF IT IS PUT DIRECTLY INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

This Angus Reid Group poll was conducted on behalf of CTV, Chatelaine Magazine and the Medical Post. The results presented here are from a survey conducted in June 1998 consisting of 1,501 telephone interviews with a representative cross-section of the adult Canadian public. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +2.5, 19 times out of 20. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.

The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population

Half of Canadians (51%) say they are willing to pay for non-emergency trips to the doctor to help fund the healthcare system. Paying room and board for hospital stays is another solution that one third of Canadians (31%) are willing to accept. Another four in ten (38%) are willing to pay an additional tax on prescription drugs that would go directly to the province to fund healthcare.

The following highlights are taken from a survey conducted in June 1998 with a representative cross-section of 1,501 Canadian adults. A sample of this size is said to have a corresponding margin of error of +2.5%.

Half Willing to Pay for Non-Emergency Trips to the Doctor

Half of Canadians (51%) indicate that they are willing to pay for non-emergency trips to the doctor to help fund the healthcare system. All told, 23% are very willing to pay for their visits to the doctor, while 29% are somewhat willing. Of the 46% who are unwilling to pay for non-emergency appointments with their doctor, 30% are very unwilling

• Men (56%) are more willing than women (49%) to pay for non-emergency visits to the doctor.
• Respondents in the highest income bracket ($60k+, 58%) are more likely to be willing to pay for non-emergency visits to the doctor than are those in other income categories (Those with a university degree (57%) or some post-secondary education (55%) are more willing than those with high school or less education (46%) to be willing to pay for non-emergency appointments with physicians.

One-third are Willing to Pay for Room and Board at Hospital

One third of Canadians (31%) say they are willing to pay for room and board at the hospital. In fact, one quarter (25%) say they are somewhat willing, while 6% say they are very willing. At the other end of the spectrum, 47% say they are very unwilling to pay for their stay in the hospital leaving another 20% who are somewhat unwilling.

• Atlantic Canadians (42%) are more likely to be willing to pay for hospital room and board than other regions of Canada.
• Canadians between 18 and 34 (35%) are more likely than other age groups to be willing to pay for their stay in the hospital (30% for 35-54 year olds and 26% for those over 55).
• Respondents who have a university education (35%) are more likely than those who do not to be willing to pay for room and board while in hospital.

Four in Ten Willing to Pay Extra Tax on Prescription Drugs

Four in ten Canadians (38%) indicate that they are willing to pay an additional tax on prescription drugs if it went directly to toward funding their provincial healthcare - versus 61% who are unwilling. Of those who are willing, 25% are somewhat willing, while 13% say they are very willing to pay extra tax on prescription drugs. By far the majority (43%) of those who are unwilling to pay an additional tax, are very unwilling compared to 18% who are somewhat unwilling.

• Again, Atlantic Canadians (50%) are more willing than those living in other regions to help fund the healthcare system -- in this case through an additional tax on prescription drugs.
• People between the ages of 18 and 34 (52%) are more likely than other age groups (35-54, 35%; 55+, 27%) to be willing to pay an extra tax on their prescriptions.
• Those who earn less than $30k per year (35%) are less likely than those in other income categories to be willing to pay extra tax on prescription drugs.

For further information, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900