WASHINGTON – A poll by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions has found that one out of four consumers believe health reform will have a negative impact on economic recovery in the United States.

Additionally, 38 percent of consumers are not knowledgeable about the components of the new health reform law; 64 percent give the current healthcare system a grade of “C” or below; and 67 percent think fraud has a major influence on driving up the cost of healthcare.

“Since 2008, we have surveyed consumers about their assessment of the U.S. healthcare system,” said Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. “Consumers remain mixed in their assessment of the system’s performance, concerned about costs and supportive of changes that improve its value.”

The difference in opinions based on the age of respondents varies greatly. Nearly 80 percent of those 18-24 years old think health reform will have a positive impact on economic recovery; in contrast, only 30 percent of adults 55-64 years old and 34 percent of adults 65 years old and older think the impact will be positive.

As for healthcare cost. 36 percent of consumers say they are financially prepared to handle future healthcare costs, while 17 percent say they are unprepared. Only 5 percent of those 18-24 years old say they are financially unprepared – possibly due to the fact that, under the new health reform bill, they can remain on their parents' coverage until they reach the age of 26. Consumers think health insurance company costs (70 percent), hospital costs (69 percent) and prescription drugs (61 percent) are major influences on driving overall healthcare system costs.

“When it comes to what consumers pay for health insurance, 37 percent believe that more than 20 percent of their premium dollars is a reasonable amount to cover insurance plan overhead costs, reflecting their understanding of administrative costs associated with their operation,” said Keckley.

Other findings include:

• 43 percent of consumers think health reform will have a positive impact on eliminating waste, fraud or abuse of the healthcare system; 21 percent think it will have a negative impact.
• 45 percent of consumers think health reform will have a positive impact on reducing health insurance costs; 30 percent think it will have a negative impact.
• 43 percent of respondents think that health reform could have a positive impact on reducing the costs of healthcare in hospitals and for doctors; 29 percent think it will have a negative impact.
• 45 percent of consumers think health reform will have a positive impact on reducing the costs of prescription drugs; 25 percent think it will have a negative impact.
• 59 percent of consumers think health reform will have a positive impact on increasing access to affordable health insurance for the uninsured; 20 percent think it will have a negative impact.
• 65 percent of consumers believe that unhealthy lifestyles that can lead to obesity can have a major influence on driving overall healthcare system costs.
• 49 percent of consumers think health reform will positively impact consumers to live healthier lives; 16 percent think it will negatively affect healthier living.