DALLAS — When it comes to the rising healthcare challenge, consumers overwhelmingly believe that greater emphasis on prevention is the solution.

According to a new consumer survey conducted by International Communications Research and commissioned by U.S. Preventive Medicine, 68.6% of consumers believe that greater national emphasis on preventative health services is the key to meeting America's healthcare challenges. Rounding out the top three solutions were universal healthcare (61.3%) and Health Savings Accounts with tax incentives that encourage people to save money for their medical needs (48%).

While most people in the survey–81%–said their insurance covered advanced preventive health measures, such as a mammogram and colonoscopy, only 55.6% said they always take advantage of these benefits. This circumstance could be remedied, according to 78.8% of respondents, if a specific prevention health benefit was part of their overall health insurance.