The National Coalition on Health Care telephone poll of a cross section of Americans reveals that most people have little confidence in the health care system. Eight in 10 Americans believe the quality of medical care is being compromised in the interest of profit. Consumers want to be better informed about how to evaluate quality of medical care from physicians and hospitals. The vast majority feels that the federal government can play an important role in improving the health care system. Middle-class respondents were greatly worried about cost, coverage, and treatment.