NY Times: In Poll, Wide Support for Government-Run Health Plan

[marmar]

In Poll, Wide Support for Government-Run Health

By KEVIN SACK and MARJORIE CONNELLY
Published: June 20, 2009


Americans overwhelmingly support substantial changes to the health care system and are strongly behind one of the most contentious proposals Congress is considering, a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The poll found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance and that they said the government could do a better job of holding down health-care costs than the private sector.

Yet the survey also revealed considerable unease about the impact of heightened government involvement, on both the economy and the quality of the respondents’ own medical care. While 85 percent of respondents said the health care system needed to be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, 77 percent said they were very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of their own care.

That paradox was skillfully exploited by opponents of the last failed attempt at overhauling the health system, during former President Bill Clinton’s first term. Sixteen years later, it underscores the tricky task facing lawmakers and President Obama as they try to address the health system’s substantial problems without igniting fears that people could lose what they like. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/health/policy/21poll.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[Captain Hilts]

1. Most folks find health insurance decisions too difficult to make. Most want what all theother kids

have. There's a logic to that.