"Provides coverage for almost all Americans, even if the government needs to subsidize health care for those who can’t afford it."
63 Favor 31 Oppose 6 Unsure 7/27-28/09
"Regardless of how you usually vote, who do you think has better ideas about reforming the health care system: Barack Obama, or the Republicans in Congress?"
Barack Obama 55% Republicans in Congress 26% Both 1% Neither 7% Unsure 11% 7/24-28/09 55 26 1 7 11
"Do you think the federal government should guarantee health insurance for all Americans, or isn't this the responsibility of the federal government?"
Should Guarantee Not Responsibility Unsure
% % %
7/24-28/09
55 38 7
6/12-16/09
64 30 6
3/12-16/09
62 30 8
http://www.pollingreport.com/health.htm
CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL. Jan. 20-25, 2006.
"Which of the following three statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of the health care system in the United States? (1) On the whole, the health care system works pretty well and only minor changes are necessary to make it work better. OR, (2) There are some good things in our health care system, but fundamental changes are needed. OR, (3) Our health care system has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it."
8% Minor Changes - 56% Fundamental Changes - 34% Completely Rebuild - 2% Unsure
"Do you think the federal government should guarantee health insurance for all Americans, or isn't this the responsibility of the federal government?"
62% Should Guarantee - 31% Not Their Responsibility - 7% Unsure
"How concerned are you about the health care costs you are facing now or will face in the future: a lot, some, not much, or not at all?"
61% A Lot - 26% Some - 8% Not Much - 5% Not At All
This poll may be available CLICK HERE
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65% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE EVEN IF TAXES INCREASE
A nationwide survey by the authoritative Pew Research Center found that 65% of Americans said they support "government health insurance even if taxes increase." Even among those identified as "social conservatives," 59% support a tax-financed government system. For other groups, the percent supporting were: "populist conservatives" (63 percent), "conservative Democrats" (73 %) and "liberals" (90 percent). Only one group, "Enterprisers" (libertarian conservatives), did not provide majority support (24 %)
Pew Research Center, "Beyond Red vs. Blue," Survey Report, 5/10/05
* * *
A Seattle ballot initiative advising the mayor and council that "health care is a right" and that "Congress should implement that right" passed with 69.8% of the vote.
Seattle City Council Advisory Ballot Measure No. 1, November 2005
* * *
Medicare is viewed favorably by 96 % of U.S. adults, according to a Harris Interactive poll of 2,242 residents. "Universal health insurance" was favored either "somewhat" or ‘strongly" by 75 % of respondents.
Wall Street Journal / Harris Poll, 10/20/05
* * *
Almost three-quarters of working Americans (72%) would like to see the federal government "guarantee health coverage for all Americans," a finding which crosses party affiliations from Democrats (88 %) to Independents (73 %) and Republicans (55 percent). Just 30 % of working Americans say they are satisfied with the health care system, down from 36% in 1994.
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, "Labor Day: 2005, The State of Working America," August 2005
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BUSINESS HEALTH CARE SURVEY from PR Newswire of February 20, 2006
SMC Business Councils is a non-profit trade association representing 3,500 small business owners in western and central Pennsylvania, which conducted an online survey last week of 150 local small business owners' current thinking about issues related to skyrocketing health care costs.
According to SMC President Cliff Shannon, "Business owners' frustrations with seemingly uncontrollable health insurance costs are mounting. Passing along more costs to their employees -- or even dropping job-based coverage altogether -- is seen by larger and larger numbers of entrepreneurs as a financial and competitive necessity. And although deep misgivings remain about the consequences and costs of a national, single-payer health care system, there is increasing agreement that this outcome may be inevitable."
Nearly two-thirds of SMC respondents said they thought that a national, single-payer system was undesirable - but nearly one-half of all surveyed agreed that a national, single payer system is (politically) inevitable.
Comments from respondents included: 1) "American business is at a huge disadvantage due to high health care costs." 2) "A universal standardized system that covers everybody would be fair and probably less expensive for each individual." 3) "A national health care system is an absolute necessity to keep this country's businesses competitive with the rest of the world."
The original story may still be available: CLICK HERE
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HEALTHCARE OF GREAT CONCERN TO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE, from Gallup News Service, by David W. Moore
Two-thirds of Americans say they personally worry A GREAT DEAL about the availability and affordability of healthcare, according to the latest Gallup Poll, making that issue the MOST WORRISOME among a dozen included in the poll. 57, 66 and 78% of Republicans, Independents and Democrats worried "a great deal" about the availability and affordability of healthcare. For each political category that was more than were worried about the Social Security system, the availability and affordability of energy, Drug use, Crime and violence, the possibility of future terrorist attacks in the U.S., the economy, hunger and homelessness, Illegal immigration, the quality of the environment, Unemployment or Race relations.
To compare the relative importance of the issues among the partisan groups, it's important to take into account the average tendency of Democrats to express more worry than Republicans on most issues. For this purpose, a "net worry" scored has been calculated by subtracting the average percentage who worry in each group from the percentage in that group who worry about each specific issue. For example, 30% of Democrats say they are worried a great deal about race relations, compared with 18% of Republicans, suggesting a big difference (of 12 points) between the two groups. But as it turns out, Democrats on average are worried more than Republicans by 13 points -- 52% vs. 39%, respectively, suggesting that race relations is relatively no more worrisome to Democrats than Republicans. The "net worry" score takes this adjustment into account.
The difference in worry between Republicans and Democrats was greater with respect to the economy, the quality of the environment, hunger and homelessness or unemployment than it was for the health care issue.
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PUBLIC OPINION ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
Summaries from several polls by Ruy Teixeira
The public wants the government to play a leading role in providing health care for all. For example, in an October, 2003 Washington Post/ABC poll, by almost a two-to-one margin, Americans said that they preferred a universal system that would provide coverage to everyone under a government program, as opposed to the current employer-based system. Similarly, in Kaiser polls from 1992 to 2000, a large majority of the public agreed that the federal government should guarantee medical care for people who don’t have health insurance. In a slightly different question asked more recently by Kaiser in June 2003, more than seven in ten adults agreed that the government should guarantee health insurance for all citizens, even if it means repealing most of the tax cuts passed under President George W. Bush, while less than one-quarter disagreed with this statement. Finally, the last time Gallup asked whether the federal government should make sure all Americans have health coverage, they agreed that was a federal government responsibility by 62-35 (November, 2002).
American overwhelmingly agree that access to health care should be a right. In 2000 just as in 1993, eight in ten agreed that health care should be provided equally to everyone, and over half agreed strongly or completely. In addition, in 2004, 76% agreed strongly or somewhat that access health care should be a right.
The public says it is willing to pay more in taxes to provide every American with health care coverage. In August, 2003, Pew found Americans favoring, by 67-26, the US government guaranteeing "health insurance for all citizens", even if that meant repealing most of "recent tax cuts". And the majority was scarcely diminished (67-29) by referring not to repealing tax cuts but more directly to "raising taxes". Similarly, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner/Public Opinion Strategies (GQR/POS) found, in January, 2004, a 69-28 majority saying they would be willing to pay more per year in federal taxes to assure every American citizen received health care coverage.
Willingness to pay more in taxes for universal coverage is a "soft commitment". For example, when phrased as whether the respondent would be willing to pay more either in higher insurance premiums or higher taxes--in order to increase the number of insured Americans, 51 % say they would not, compared to 45 % who say they would. And, in the GQR/POS survey, when asked how much they’d be willing to pay in additional taxes to assure universal coverage for American citizens, 40% would not name a dollar figure at all and 16 % named a figure under $100. [EINO: The question would more appropriately be worded "How many of you are willing to pay additional premium and taxes so that the egregious salaries and redundant administration and stockholder profit could continue to be extracted out of the health care system?"]
The public is also not completely clear on whether the federal government actually has to lead the way on universal coverage. When asked specifically about responsibility for covering the uninsured, four in ten people (43 percent) do say that the federal government should have the most responsibility for providing health insurance coverage to the uninsured, but two in ten (20 percent) say that state governments should be most responsible, and about one in ten (11 percent) say that employers should be most responsible. Another two in ten (18 percent) think that the responsibility belongs to none of these or to another group. (June 2003 Kaiser poll)
For Mr. Teixera's original summary CLICK HERE
For the Century Foundation Polls CLICK HERE
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PUBLIC OPINION OF CONSUMER-DRIVEN PLANS
Which one of the following do you think is the MOST important reason to have health insurance?
71% - To protect against high medical bills
25% - To pay for everyday health care expenses
03% - Don't know
Catastrophic Coverage: Opinions
Suppose you heard about a type of insurance plan that only starts paying once you (and your family) have paid ($2,000/$5,000) of medical expenses out of your pocket. After that, it would cover medical expenses like traditional insurance, requiring you to pay some co-payments each time you use services. The monthly premium for the plan would be less than half of what you would pay for a typical comprehensive health insurance policy.
Would you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about this type of health plan?
56% - Very unfavorable
21% - Somewhat unfavorable
13% - Somewhat favorable
05% - Very favorable
Would you feel well protected, or would you feel vulnerable to high medical bills with this type of health plan?
79% - Vulnerable
16% - Well protected
05% - Don't know
Consumer-Driven Plans: Opinions
(Asked of those with employer-sponsored health insurance) There is a new type of health plan that some employers are considering. It works like this: your employer pays for a health plan that only starts to pay after you have spent ($2,000/$4,000) in medical expenses. They also put ($1,000/$2,000) in an account you can use for medical costs. If your medical expenses are more than ($1,000/$2,000), you have to pay with your own money until you hit the ($2,000/$4,000) limit.
Would you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about this type of health plan?
52% - Very unfavorable
21% - Somewhat unfavorable
16% - Somewhat favorable
06% - Very favorable
05% - Don't know
Would you feel well protected, or would you feel vulnerable to high medical bills with this type of health plan?
78% - Vulnerable
18% - Well protected
05% - Don't know
And by political party and ideology - unfavorable opinion of these consumer-driven plans:
67% of Republicans
74% of Independents
78% of Democrats
68% of Conservatives
70% of Moderates
79% of Liberals
For Poll at official Kaiser site CLICK HERE
BEYOND RED VS. BLUE
from The Pew Research Center Survey Report of May 10, 2005
Solid majorities of every group, with the sole exception of Enterprisers, favor a government guarantee of health insurance for all Americans, even if it means raising taxes. Across the electorate, support for guaranteed health insurance ranges from 55% among Upbeats and 59% among Social Conservatives to 90% among Liberals. By contrast, Enterprisers strongly oppose guaranteed health insurance for all, if it means higher taxes (76% oppose, 23% favor).
Percent favoring government health insurance for all, even if taxes increase:
65% of the total
23% of enterprisers
59% of social conservatives
63% of pro-government conservatives
55% of upbeats
64% of disaffecteds
73% of conservative Democrats
65% of disadvantaged Democrats
90% of liberals
For Full Poll Report CLICK HERE
POLL FINDS WOMEN MORE LIKELY TO WORRY ABOUT HEALTH CARE COSTS
Women are more likely than men to say that they are very worried about being able to afford health care.
Four in 10 (40%) adult women in the U.S. say that they are "very worried" about not being able to afford the health care services they need, compared with fewer than three in 10 (27%) men. Women are also more likely than men to say they are "very worried" about being able to afford prescription drugs (40% of women versus 29% of men) and having to pay more for health care or insurance (49% of women versus 41% of men). The gender gap may be due, in part, to the facts that women are often the primary health care decision-makers in the home, that they generally have more significant health care needs than men, and that they are disproportionately lower income.
For complete poll report CLICK HERE
PUBLIC OPINION ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
Summaries from several polls by Ruy Teixeira
The public wants the government to play a leading role in providing health care for all. For example, in an October, 2003 Washington Post/ABC poll, by almost a two-to-one margin, Americans said that they preferred a universal system that would provide coverage to everyone under a government program, as opposed to the current employer-based system. Similarly, in Kaiser polls from 1992 to 2000, a large majority of the public agreed that the federal government should guarantee medical care for people who don’t have health insurance. In a slightly different question asked more recently by Kaiser in June 2003, more than seven in ten adults agreed that the government should guarantee health insurance for all citizens, even if it means repealing most of the tax cuts passed under President George W. Bush, while less than one-quarter disagreed with this statement. Finally, the last time Gallup asked whether the federal government should make sure all Americans have health coverage, they agreed that was a federal government responsibility by 62-35 (November, 2002).
American overwhelmingly agree that access to health care should be a right. In 2000 just as in 1993, eight in ten agreed that health care should be provided equally to everyone, and over half agreed strongly or completely. In addition, in 2004, 76% agreed strongly or somewhat that access health care should be a right.
The public says it is willing to pay more in taxes to provide every American with health care coverage. In August, 2003, Pew found Americans favoring, by 67-26, the US government guaranteeing "health insurance for all citizens", even if that meant repealing most of "recent tax cuts". And the majority was scarcely diminished (67-29) by referring not to repealing tax cuts but more directly to "raising taxes". Similarly, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner/Public Opinion Strategies (GQR/POS) found, in January, 2004, a 69-28 majority saying they would be willing to pay more per year in federal taxes to assure every American citizen received health care coverage.
Willingness to pay more in taxes for universal coverage is a "soft commitment". For example, when phrased as whether the respondent would be willing to pay more either in higher insurance premiums or higher taxes--in order to increase the number of insured Americans, 51 % say they would not, compared to 45 % who say they would. And, in the GQR/POS survey, when asked how much they’d be willing to pay in additional taxes to assure universal coverage for American citizens, 40% would not name a dollar figure at all and 16 % named a figure under $100. [EINO: The question would more appropriately be worded "How many of you are willing to pay additional premium and taxes so that the egregious salaries and redundant administration and stockholder profit could continue to be extracted out of the health care system?"]
The public is also not completely clear on whether the federal government actually has to lead the way on universal coverage. When asked specifically about responsibility for covering the uninsured, four in ten people (43 percent) do say that the federal government should have the most responsibility for providing health insurance coverage to the uninsured, but two in ten (20 percent) say that state governments should be most responsible, and about one in ten (11 percent) say that employers should be most responsible. Another two in ten (18 percent) think that the responsibility belongs to none of these or to another group. (June 2003 Kaiser poll)
For Mr. Teixera's original summary CLICK HEREhttp://www.emergingdemocraticmajorityweblog.com/donkeyrising/archives/001291.php
For the Century Foundation Polls CLICK HEREhttp://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1093 (Century Foundation Sept 7, 2005)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/opinion/polls/main2528357.shtmlBy almost a 2-1 margin in this poll, 62 percent to 32 percent, Americans said they preferred a universal system that would provide coverage to everyone under a government program, as opposed to the current employer-based system.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1019-10.htmhttp://www.everybodyinnobodyout.org/DOCS/Polls.htm#GovtGuar
