Half (52%) of Global Citizens
Would Find it Difficult for a Very Ill Family Member to Get Quality, Affordable Healthcare

Washington, DC-- A new Reuters News poll conducted by Ipsos and released today indicates that half (52%) of adults surveyed in 22 countries (representing 75% of the worlds GDP) would find it difficult if a member of their family became very ill (very 13%/somewhat 39%) for them to get quality, affordable health care services compared to the other half (48%) who believe it would be easy (very 9%/somewhat 39%) to do so.

The survey of over 23,000 adults--1000+ respondents per country -- shows that those residing in Japan (85%), Hungary (83%), Russia (71%) and South Korea (71%) are the most likely to indicate it would be difficult for a very ill family member to get quality, affordable health care services. In the alternate, those citizens residing in Sweden (75%), Belgium (70%), Canada (69%) and the Netherlands (69%) are the most likely to indicate it would be easy for a very ill family member to get quality, affordable health care services.

The following list of findings begin with the countries where citizens are most likely to indicate it would be difficult (52%) for a very ill family member to get quality, affordable health care services and ascends to those countries where citizens are most likely to indicate it would be easy (48%) for a very ill family member to get quality, affordable health care services:

Japan - 85% difficult/15% easy Hungary - 83% difficult/17% easy Russia - 71% difficult/29% easy South Korea - 71% difficult/29% easy China - 66% difficult/34% easy Czech Republic - 66% difficult/34% easy Mexico - 64% difficult/36% easy Brazil - 62% difficult/38% easy Italy - 62% difficult/38% easy Argentina - 55% difficult/45% easy Germany - 55% difficult/45% easy Poland - 51% difficult/49% easy United States - 9% difficult/51% easy Spain - 47% difficult/53% easy Great Britain - 45% difficult/55% easy Australia - 38% difficult/62% easy France - 37% difficult/63% easy India - 36% difficult/64% easy Netherlands - 31% difficult/69% easy Canada - 31% difficult/69% easy Belgium - 30% difficult/70% easy Sweden - 25% difficult/75% easy

Those global citizens who are the most likely to indicate it would be difficult for a very ill family member to get quality, affordable health care services are women (55%) compared to men (50%); those aged under 35 (53%) and 35 to 54 (53%) compared to those aged 55+ (48%); those with low income (56%) compared to those with middle income (52%) and higher income (47%); and, those with low education (56%) compared to those with middle education (53%) and high education (49%). There is no difference in terms of marital status--52% of those who are married compared with 52% who are of "other" status.

Those global citizens who are the most likely to indicate it would be easy for a very ill family member to get quality, affordable health care services are men (50%) compared to women (45%); those aged 55+ (52%) compared to those under the age of 35 (47%) and between the ages of 35 and 54 (47%); those with high income (53%) compared to those with middle income (48%) and higher income (44%); and, those with high education (51%) compared to those with middle education (47%) and low education (44%). There is no statistical difference between those who are married (48%) or otherwise (48%).

These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between November 4th, 2009 and January 13th, 2010, on behalf of Thompson Reuters News Service. For this survey an international sample of 23,351 adults aged 18-64 were interviewed in a total of 22 countries representing 75% of the world's GDP. The countries included Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, and South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Great Britain and the United States. Approximately 1000+ individuals participated on a country by country basis via the Ipsos online panel. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to the most recent country Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20 per country of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in that country had been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error. G@6H1. The question posed was "Imagine that a member of your family became very ill. How difficult would it be for them to get quality, affordable health care services? Very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat difficult or very difficult?"

For more information on this news release, please contact: Darrell Bricker CEO Ipsos Global Public Affairs 416.324.2900 [email protected]

For all Reuters/Ipsos Polls go to: http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/reuters-polls/

For information about Ipsos and access to all Media and Polling Releases go to: http://www.ipsos-na.com

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the second largest global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals that assess market potential and interpret market trends for over 5,000 worldwide clients to develop and test emergent or existing products or services, build brands, test advertising and study audience responses to various media, and, measure public opinion on issues and reputation. With over 9,100 employees working in wholly owned operations in 64 countries, Ipsos conducts advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting and a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services in over 100 countries. Founded in 1975 by Jean-Marc Lech and Didier Truchot, Ipsos has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2008, Ipsos' revenues totaled e979.3 million. Listed on Eurolist by NYSE - Euronext Paris, Ipsos is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-100 Index and is eligible to the Deferred Settlement System. Visit www.ipsos-na.com to learn more about Ipsos offerings and capabilities..

About Thomson Reuters

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