The survey summarizes the results of the 7th Health & Society Barometer measuring public opinions on healthcare in 8 European countries and the US. It finds that while views on healthcare systems remain mixed in Europe, opinions in the US and France have significantly worsened. It also reports that cancelling medical treatment for financial reasons remains high in the US and 4 European countries including France. Additionally, younger generations are reluctant to support increasing healthcare spending through taxes.

1. Press release
7th Health & Society Barometer
• Americans' opinions of their healthcare systems are worsening
while those of Europeans remain very mixed
• The cancellation of treatment for financial reasons remains
high in the United States and in four European countries,
including France
• Young generations remain very reluctant about using tax to
about
cover the increase in healthcare spending
• Europeans and Americans are widely in favour of new
technologies and robotics to maintain dependent elderly
people at home, while their provision of care is still deemed
unsatisfactory
Martin Vial, Chief Executive Officer of the Europ Assistance Group, presented the results of
the 7th "CSA/Europ Assistance Health and Society Barometer", revealing the views of
Europeans and Americans with regard to their respective healthcare systems.
Carried out by the CSA Institute at the request of the Europ Assistance Group, the "CSA/Europ
Assistance Health and Society Barometer" aims to provide information to promote the
d
understanding of practices, expectations and concerns in terms of healthcare of the citizens of
eight European countries (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland, Austria
and Spain) and of the United States This barometer has been measuring and monitoring the state
States.
of public opinion on the major healthcare issues for the past seven years.
th
On the occasion of the 50 anniversary of the Europ Assistance group, established in
France by its founder, Pierre Desnos, the "CSA/Europ Assistance Health and Society
Barometer" focuses, in its 2013 edition, on the topic of healthcare and travel, and the theme
of repatriation for medical reasons, the long standing business of Europ Assistance.
long-standing
This barometer has been based on a sample of 5,000 individuals that are representative of the
adult population (over-18s), distributed across the 9 countries, in May and June 2013.
18s),
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Tuesday 15 October 2013 – 00:00
CSA – Europ Assistance Survey

2. AMERICANS' OPINIONS OF THEIR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ARE CONSIDERABLY
WORSENING WHILE THOSE OF EUROPEANS REMAIN VERY MIXED
The view held by Europeans about their healthcare systems is, on average, quite stable with
a score of 4.7 out of 10, but the survey reveals some major differences: the Italians (3.2) and the
Polish (2.8) have a very negative opinion of their respective healthcare systems. The view of
Spanish citizens continues to decline (4.8 versus 5.1 in 2012 and 5.4 in 2011).
The French retain a generally favourable opinion of their healthcare system with a score of 5.1,
stable compared to the previous year and close to that of the British.
On the other hand, the view held by Americans has significantly worsened to a score of 4.5
versus 5 in 2012 and now situated below the European average.
EQUAL ACCESS TO TREATMENT: AN OPINION THAT IS IMPROVING IN THE
UNITED STATES AND EUROPE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITALY
Less than half of Europeans (44%, up 2 points compared to 2012) and Americans (41%, up
7) consider that their current healthcare system ensures equal access to medical treatment
for all citizens.
The upward trend seen in the USA can also be observed across Europe, especially in Sweden (up
7 points to 41%) and Great Britain (up 5 points to 59%).
On the other hand, the opinion on equal access to treatment has considerably fallen in Italy (down
16 points to 28%), now at its lowest level since 2007.
In France, opinions have gone back up (up 5 points to 43%), after a sharp fall between 2011 and
2012.
USING TAX AND WELFARE CONTRIBUTIONS TO COVER INCREASED
HEALTHCARE SPENDING: YOUNG GENERATIONS ARE VERY RELUNCTANT
When questioned about what, in their view, is the best way to fund the increase in
healthcare spending, 38% of Europeans mention taxes or compulsory contributions, ahead
of excess payments for medical procedures (33%) and private, supplementary or optional
mutual insurance policies (29%).
Preferences are very different among Americans, 42% of whom say excess payments for
medical procedures, followed by taxes or compulsory contributions (30%) and private,
supplementary or optional mutual insurance policies (28%).
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3. As for the French, 40% of them prefer an increase in excess payments for medical
procedures, 32% taxes or compulsory contributions and 28% private, supplementary or
optional mutual insurance policies.
However, the most remarkable point here is that Europeans aged under 40 are much less
willing to use tax. Only 31% of this age group prefer taxes or compulsory contributions,
versus 42% of 40-59 year-olds and 44% of over-60s. In France, only 25% of under-40s are
favourable to this, compared to 43% of people aged 40-59.
In a context where compulsory contributions are rising, young generations thus appear especially
reluctant about the taxation option as a way of covering increased healthcare spending.
THE CANCELLATION OF TREATMENT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS REMAINS HIGH
IN FOUR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THE UNITED STATES, WITH AN INCREASE
IN FRANCE
While 23% of Americans (up 2 points) claim they have cancelled or postponed medical
treatment for themselves or a member of their household for financial reasons, four
European countries are characterised by high levels of treatment cancellation: Poland with
39% of people interviewed claiming to have cancelled treatment for financial reasons in
2013 (down 2 points), France with 33% (up 6 points), Germany with 24% (down 6 points) and
Italy with 20% (down 7 points).
In France, women are particularly affected by this (41%, versus 23% of men), as well as 18-39
year olds (40%, versus 22% of over-60s). Dental treatment (25%) is the first kind of treatment
that French people cancel or postpone, followed by the purchase of new glasses or contact
lenses (17%), routine treatments (12%), purchase of medication (7%) and intensive
treatments (7%).
In comparison, the level of cancelled treatment declared is much lower in Austria (11%),
Spain (7%), Sweden (6%) and Great Britain (4%).
PROVISION OF CARE FOR DEPENDENT ELDERLY PEOPLE: A SITUATION
DEEMED UNSATISFACTORY WITH OPINIONS WHICH HAVE CONSIDERABLY
WORSENED IN 3 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Europeans have a negative view of the organisation and quality of care for elderly and
dependent people. They give an average score of just 3.7, a fall of 0.3 points, compared to
4.9 for Americans (up 0.1). The best score is found in Austria (5.7) and the worst in Italy
(2.2), with the French in between at 3.9. Opinions have considerably worsened in Germany
(down 0.9 points), Spain (down 1.4 points) and Italy (down 0.7 points) where it is lowest (2.2
out of 10).
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4. This negative view goes hand-in-hand with a growing desire to see resources dedicated, as a
priority, to home care rather than to retirement homes.
Over three-quarters of Europeans (78%, up 4 points) and 86% of Americans (up 5 points)
prefer this perspective.
THE USE OF
CONSUMPTION
NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
IS
EXTENDING
TO
HEALTHCARE
Public opinion appears to be increasingly convinced by the role that new technologies can
play in the field of healthcare. A rise in the consultation of healthcare information on the
Internet can be seen in most countries (with 58% of Europeans, up 5 points compared to
2012, and 75% of Americans, unchanged). The reverse can be seen in France, with a slight
fall (45%, down 4 points).
A clear majority of Europeans (68%, up 8 points) and Americans (74%, up 5) claim to be in
favour of the development of continuous medical monitoring resources by mobile phone
(such as the daily recording of blood sugar, blood pressure and heart rate).
As for the possibility of consulting a GP remotely via webcam connection, opinions are less
favourable. However, 39% of Europeans (up 4) and 48% of Americans (down 2) would already
be willing to do so. Nonetheless, this idea is more appealing to the Swedish (62%) and the
Spanish (52%) than to the French (32%), the Germans (25%) and the Austrians (15%).
Finally, 59% of Europeans and 61% of Americans think that robotics should be developed to
prolong home care for elderly and dependent people.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR TO ECONOMIC GROWTH:
EUROPEANS ARE INCREASINGLY CONVINCED
The view that the healthcare sector contributes to a country's economic growth has increased in
virtually every country.
Nearly three-quarters of Europeans (74%, up 14 points) are of this opinion, compared to
60% (down 2 points) of Americans. This opinion is especially widespread in Italy (85%, up
18 points), Spain (85%, up 24 points) and Sweden (83% up 14 points), but less so in France
(59%, up 2 points) and Poland (58%, up 5 points).
REPATRIATION FOR MEDICAL REASONS: ALMOST UNANIMOUS PERCEPTION OF
PROGRESS THAT SAVES LIVES
68% of Europeans and Americans believe that repatriation for medical reasons is first and
foremost a major improvement when it comes to saving lives, 53% when travelling with
family and 44% when visiting more distant, less familiar countries.
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5. th
On the occasion of the 50 anniversary of the Europ Assistance group, established in
France by its founder, Pierre Desnos, the "CSA/Europ Assistance Health and Society
Barometer" focuses, in its 2013 edition, on the topic of healthcare and travel, and the theme
of repatriation for medical reasons, the long-standing business of Europ Assistance.
All results from the 2013 CSA-Europ Assistance-Health and Society Barometer are available
on www.europ-assistance.com.
Press contacts:
Europ Assistance Group
Philippe Moucherat
Tel: + 33 (0) 1 58 34 23 82 / + 33 (0) 6 07 18 19 76
pmoucherat@europ-assistance.com
CSA Institute
Léda Bontosoglou
Communications Manager
Tel: + 33 (0) 1 57 00 58 50 / + 33 (0) 6 72 54 98 58
leda.bontosoglou@csa.com
Hélène Chevalier
Health and Quality of Life Director
helene.chevalier@csa.com
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