What the Latest Polls Show on Health Care

What the Latest Polls Show on Health Care
By Ron Faucheux, CQ Guest Columnist


Harry Truman fretted that every economic adviser he consulted would tell him, “On one hand . . . but on the other hand.” He longed for a one-armed economist.

As today’s politicians look at polls on the health care issue, they face the same frustrating quandary.

On one hand, Americans believe that the health care system needs fundamental change. But on the other hand, they’re happy with the quality of their own care and don’t want medical options limited by bureaucrats.

Voters are willing to allow government to play a bigger role when it comes to cutting costs and expanding coverage. But they also fear the implications of expanded government intervention.

For example, according to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, 72 percent of Americans support a government-run health insurance option.

But despite this expression of support, 63 percent of those surveyed said they were very or somewhat concerned that the quality of their own health care would get worse if the government sets up a program to provide health care for all Americans. Also, 68 percent were very or somewhat concerned that their own access to medical tests and treatment would be more limited under such a system.

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003155521

It matters what rep or senator is in which pharm or insurance back pockets. This has nothing to do with people's thoughts on the matter.

we would already have something similar to what many other countries have. People would not be losing their homes,bank accounts when hospital bills come rolling in. Seniors would not be cutting pills in half or skipping meds altogether. We would not be dealing with medical doughnut holes! People would not be afraid of losing their jobs on the premise of losing their health insurance. We as citizens would be more likely to seea doctor or dentist before medical issues get out of hand. We would not have to keep begging,nagging,hoping that any politician will actually help our cause instead of using it as a political issue each election go 'round. Until they lose their health care they will never know what it's like at our end of the tunnel.

Many questions are interesting, showing that both Democrats and Republicans have succeeded to some extent in getting there talking points out. There is a wealth of information here that bears looking at. Democrats have won the issue that everyone should get insurance, even if it were to cost the person polled more in taxes. Republicans have had some success with there fear campaign - if you look at the questions of possible negative impacts.

looking through all the questions does provide insight on why the political decision here is not as easy as some here want to think. (Public option is noteworthy in being extremely popular, but many other questions show many people very happy with what they currently have.)






http://documents.nytimes.com/latest-new-york-times-cbs-news-poll-on-health#p=6