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July 12, 2007

NEWS RELEASE

Robin Sidel, (202) 347-5270, rsidel@kff.org
Larry Levitt, (650) 854-9400, llevitt@kff.org

New Website Provides Up-to-Date Polling, Analysis, Facts, News, Video,
and Interviews from Kaiser and a Broad Range of Sources

Menlo Park, CA - With healthcare emerging as the top domestic issue in the 2008 presidential election, the Kaiser Family Foundation today launched a new website - health08.org - that will provide analysis of health policy issues, regular public opinion surveys, and news and video coverage from the campaign trail.

Since March, Kaiser's tracking poll on health and the 2008 election has found that health care is a top domestic issue that the public wants presidential candidates to address, trailing only Iraq on the public's overall priority list. Meanwhile, 41% of adults are personally worried about health care or insurance costs, topping concerns about paying their rent or mortgage, being a victim of a terrorist attack or a violent crime, losing their job, or losing money in the stock market.

Nationally, 45 million Americans do not have any health coverage. And, health insurance premiums are up 87% over the last six years, more than four times the growth in wages, according to the Kaiser/HRET Employer Health Benefits Survey.

"For the first time since the early 1990s, there is a buzz in the air about the potential for a major debate about the future direction of our health care system, and how the issue plays in this presidential election will frame that debate," said Kaiser President and CEO Drew E. Altman. "With health08.org, we will be there from start to finish with news and video as it happens, analysis of the issues, and tracking of where the public stands."

The new health08.org website - which will be free of charge and not include advertising - will serve as a hub of information about health and the election, including original content produced by Kaiser and easy access to health-related resources from the campaigns, other organizations, and news outlets. Elements of the site include:

• Analysis of health policy issues, summaries of health reform proposals, and basic facts and information about the health system from Kaiser's research staff.
• Regular Kaiser tracking surveys examining the public's views on health issues and perceptions of the presidential candidates on health care, as well as links to the latest polls by other organizations.
• Syntheses of news coverage about health and the campaign, updated frequently.
• Video and podcasts from the campaign trail, including candidate speeches, and health-related highlights from forums and debates.
• Interviews with candidates and other key players in the health reform debate.
• Dedicated pages for the candidates, with easy-to-access links to their health positions and other resources.
• A calendar of events taking place around the country and links to studies and resources from other organizations.
• A weekly email roundup of developments related to health and the election and free syndication of content available to other websites. Sign up for the email at http://www.health08.org/email.

Health08.org is one of a number of projects the Kaiser Family Foundation will undertake throughout the election season.