Consumer Reports Poll: Two-Thirds of Americans Support a Public Health Care Plan

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Washington DC—A new poll released today by Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, shows that 66 percent of Americans support having the option of a public health insurance plan as part of health care reform. This public plan would give everyone – insured and uninsured – the option of a plan that is more affordable, with no preexisting conditions, has a consistent menu of benefits, and is always available. A clear majority across all demographic sectors supported creating a public plan. The new poll was released today on Capitol Hill by Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and other ranking Senators.

“This new poll confirms what has been on the minds of many Americans for years—people are sick of our broken health care system that is too expensive and doesn’t cover everybody,” said Jim Guest, president of Consumers Union. “This is the year to change our system and create a fair marketplace, including the option of a public plan, where people can have affordable and quality health care choices.”

The survey was conducted among 2,009 adults 18 years and older April 2-6, 2009. The sampling error is +/-2.2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

The full poll is available online at:http://www.consumersunion.org/pdf/health-reform-poll-2009.pdf

Dissatisfaction with current health care system:

The new data sheds light on the number of Americans who are dissatisfied with the current health care system:

• The new data shows that 71 percent of Americans support or strongly support health care reform to ensure that everybody has access to affordable, quality healthcare.

• Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) expressed major or moderate concern about the ability to afford doctor visits in the future.

• Sixty percent of Americans said they had a major or moderate concern about the possibility of bankruptcy because of a medical concern.

Covering the uninsured:

Americans recognize that we are already paying for care, but in the most inefficient and expensive ways. Seven in 10 respondents completely agreed or agreed that if provided with health insurance:

• Newly insured Americans would go to a doctor or clinic for routine treatment rather than the emergency room (71 percent)

• Newly insured Americans would receive early treatment and prevent minor problems from escalating into major ones (70 percent)

• Newly insured Americans would receive regular treatment and become healthier (69 percent)

The results were conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, which used a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households.

### Media Contacts:

David Butler, 202-462-6262

Kristina Edmunson, 202-462-6262

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization serving the consumer. We are a comprehensive source of unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health, nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Since 1936, our mission has been to test products, inform the public, and protect consumers

http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_health_care/011131.html

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Time for someone to ask the real question.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Time for someone to ask the real question.

[Heracles 417]

Polls me jack sh-t. How about showing how America can build / implement such a system? That is the trillion dollar question.

We need workable and viable solutions.

1. No-brainer solution is similar to one proposed by McCain. I should be able to choose my provider rather than have the employer choose it for me. This way I can seek the best coverage for the lowest cost.

2. There needs to be mandatory coverage and no discrimination against pre-existing conditions.

3. It needs to be illegal for anyone to abuse the system, from doctors to hospitals, to even patients. For example: Charging someone $100 to use a tissue box during a stay in the hospital and then disguising as some sort of medical necessity, when billing the insurance company, should be illegal.

4. State governments need to build their own public hospitals to compete with private hospitals. This will promote competition. At the end of the day if let the free market work and let the best provider win. If the governments can run hospitals more efficiently and provider better service, then so be it. By By for the inefficient private ones.

5. We need state level policies to cover the uninsured. This way the state uses their buying power to negotiate the cheapest rate for the uninsured.

6. Ensure only citizens and legal residents have access to the system. Even the wealthiest country in the world, with a bottomless pit of diamonds and gold cannot afford to pay for 20,000,000 illegal immigrants.

7. Reopen the borders and allow companies to import cheaper pharmaceuticals from overseas. We get stitched big time when it comes to the cost of medication here.

Edited May 3, 2009 by Constellation

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Time for someone to ask the real question.

McCarthy was for government paid for health care?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Time for someone to ask the real question.

McCarthy was for government paid for health care?

What's the real question that needs to be asked, Joseph?

[mRx 16]

Too bad Americans don't realize that bureaucratic parasites are the real reason our healthcare system is grossly inefficient.

Removing the parasites; not letting them take over, is the most economically and socially desirable solution.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Too bad Americans don't realize that bureaucratic parasites are the real reason our healthcare system is grossly inefficient.

No, I tend to think it's the $30,000 per hour rate charged by some surgeons. I have the bill in front of me.

[mRx 16]

Too bad Americans don't realize that bureaucratic parasites are the real reason our healthcare system is grossly inefficient.

No, I tend to think it's the $30,000 per hour rate charged by some surgeons. I have the bill in front of me.

Sucks man, but that bill is a $30K effect of the problem.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Time for someone to ask the real question.

McCarthy was for government paid for health care?

What's the real question that needs to be asked, Joseph?

Wow! Going from McCarthy to Stalin! The question that should be asked, are Americans ready for government funded healthcare? I have an HMO. Many Americans have Medicare. Lots of military and their families are in Tricare. What not skip this maket driven model, and just let the government run the whole thing? Pay for the whole thing out of tax revenues with no out of pocket expenses, or a small copay, for the patient. A government managed, private insurance funded, and employer enrolled system has not worked so far, so why continue?

Oh, yeah! Include dental, too, because dentists really piss me off!

Edited May 3, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The question that should be asked, are Americans ready for government funded healthcare?

The poll answered that question....and then some. An overwhelming number of Americans support universal coverage. I don't how you can not see that.

Edited May 3, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The question that should be asked, are Americans ready for government funded healthcare?

The poll answered that question....and then some. An overwhelming number of Americans support universal coverage. I don't how you can not see that.

I don't know if you are avoiding the issue, or simply don't understand the question. The survey question answerred in the OP is:

shows that 66 percent of Americans support having the option of a public health insurance plan as part of health care reform. This public plan would give everyone – insured and uninsured – the option of a plan that is more affordable, with no preexisting conditions, has a consistent menu of benefits, and is always available.

That is a long ways from government run healthcare, paid for by tax revenues. My question is not about reform, not about the government competing with private insurance companies, HMO's, PPO's, etc, and not about letting the market drive the system, with the government tinkering around the edges. I am talking about a utilitarian takeover of the entire health delivery system by the Federal Government, from educating healthcare workers, to running hospitals, to deciding what care is available to whom, and in what manner that care is delivered.

Edited May 3, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The question that should be asked, are Americans ready for government funded healthcare?

The poll answered that question....and then some. An overwhelming number of Americans support universal coverage. I don't how you can not see that.

I don't know if you are avoiding the issue, or simply don't understand the question. The survey question answerred in the OP is:

shows that 66 percent of Americans support having the option of a public health insurance plan as part of health care reform. This public plan would give everyone – insured and uninsured – the option of a plan that is more affordable, with no preexisting conditions, has a consistent menu of benefits, and is always available.

That is a long ways from government run healthcare, paid for by tax revenues. My question is not about reform, not about the government competing with private insurance companies, HMO's, PPO's, etc, and not about letting the market drive the system, with the government tinkering around the edges. I am talking about a utilitarian takeover of the entire health delivery system by the Federal Government, from educating healthcare workers, to running hospitals, to deciding what care is available to whom, and in what manner that care is delivered.

Bill, you're splitting hairs. It wasn't a deceptive or trick question. Public insurance means publicly funded, unless you know of another type of public program that isn't publicly funded?

Edited May 3, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Heracles 417]

Bill, you're splitting hairs. It wasn't a deceptive or trick question. Public insurance means publicly funded, unless you know of another type of public program that isn't publicly funded?

Are you prepared to pay a minimum 5% increase in income taxes to fund this? May even be 10% in Cali.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The question that should be asked, are Americans ready for government funded healthcare?

The poll answered that question....and then some. An overwhelming number of Americans support universal coverage. I don't how you can not see that.

I don't know if you are avoiding the issue, or simply don't understand the question. The survey question answerred in the OP is:

shows that 66 percent of Americans support having the option of a public health insurance plan as part of health care reform. This public plan would give everyone – insured and uninsured – the option of a plan that is more affordable, with no preexisting conditions, has a consistent menu of benefits, and is always available.

That is a long ways from government run healthcare, paid for by tax revenues. My question is not about reform, not about the government competing with private insurance companies, HMO's, PPO's, etc, and not about letting the market drive the system, with the government tinkering around the edges. I am talking about a utilitarian takeover of the entire health delivery system by the Federal Government, from educating healthcare workers, to running hospitals, to deciding what care is available to whom, and in what manner that care is delivered.

Bill, you're splitting hairs. It wasn't a deceptive or trick question. Public insurance means publicly funded, unless you know of another type of public program that isn't publicly funded?

Your thinking is just too conservative to understand the issue, I am afraid. As long as you continue to use that nasty word, we are stuck with the system we have now.

Edited May 4, 2009 by Mister_Bill