"The survey results paint a devastating picture of a health care system that costs too much, covers too little, leaves too many people behind and is getting worse," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said in a conference call.

The survey, conducted by the union and its affiliate Working America between Jan. 14 and March 3, was not random but was open to anyone who responded to the online questionnaire. About half the respondents said they were union members.

Among the findings:

-- 95 percent of respondents said the health care system in the United States needs to be completely overhauled or fundamentally changed.

-- 46 percent reported having to spend between $1,000 and $5,000 in out-of-pocket costs for health care in the past year.

-- Nearly a third said their insurance company initially refused to cover a medical treatment for themselves or a family member that should have been covered.

-- About 48 percent said they or a family member stayed in a job just for the health insurance.

To see the full survey results, go to www.healthcaresurvey.aflcio.org.

This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle