The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll appears more honest in demographics and political leanings of respondents than the one with slanted political-affiliation respondents that the New York Times-CBS tried to slip past us over the weekend. Simply, there’s justified concern over the costs of healthcare but more concern over losing the healthcare we now have or the government dictating it. President Obama remains popular, but his policy is bad medicine.
As this poll sums up:
A majority of Americans see government action as critical to controlling runaway health-care costs, but there is broad public anxiety about the potential impact of reform legislation and conflicting views about the types of fixes being proposed on Capitol Hill… Most respondents are "very concerned" that health-care reform would lead to higher costs, lower quality, fewer choices, a bigger deficit, diminished insurance coverage and more government bureaucracy. About six in 10 are at least somewhat worried about all of these factors, underscoring the challenges for lawmakers as they attempt to restructure the nation's $2.3 trillion health-care system.
Part of the reason so many are nervous about future changes is a fear they may lose what they currently have. More than eight in 10 said they are satisfied with the quality of care they now receive and relatively content with their own current expenses, and worry about future rising costs cuts across party lines and is amplified in the weak economy….
Beyond general backing for governmental action, a few specific provisions under consideration on Capitol Hill receive significant levels of public support, including higher taxes on households with incomes above $250,000, a limit on medical malpractice amounts and, under certain conditions, a law requiring all Americans to carry health insurance. A large majority, 70 percent, opposes a new federal tax on employer-paid health insurance benefits that exceed $17,000 a year.
Majority support for certain new government action, however, does not come with high hopes: Half of all Americans said they think the quality of their health care will stay about the same if the system changes, and 31 percent expect it to deteriorate.
The poll data is available here. Here’s part of the data below:
17. How concerned are you, if at all, that current efforts to reform the health care system will [ITEM] - very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?
6/21/09 - Summary Table*
--- Concerned ---- ----- Not concerned ------ No
NET Very Smwht NET Not too Not at all op.
a. Reduce the quality of health care you
receive 81 58 23 18 10 9 1
b. Reduce your health
insurance coverage 82 55 27 17 10 7 1
c. Increase your health
care costs 84 62 22 16 9 7 *
d. Increase government
bureaucracy in the
health care system 78 51 27 19 12 7 3
e. Limit your choices
of doctors or
treatments 79 56 23 20 12 8 1
f. Sharply increase the
federal deficit 84 56 28 14 8 5 2
*Item b asked only if insured
President Obama and his congressional supporters shy away from reining in tort attorneys, a major source of their contributions but, significantly, there majority support for tort reform to rein in the 10+% of healthcare costs that come from lawsuits and defensive medicine.
24. (HALF SAMPLE) Would you support or oppose a law limiting the amount of money someone can collect if they win a lawsuit after being injured by bad medical care?
Support Oppose No opinion
6/21/09 57 42 2
25. (HALF SAMPLE) Would you support or oppose a law limiting the amount of money you could collect if you won a lawsuit after being injured by bad medical care?
Support Oppose No opinion
6/21/09 53 42 4
We’re not heartless. Seventy percent polled favor “A tax credit or other aid to help low-income Americans pay for health insurance.”
Tort reform and help for the poor. That’s enough. Trillions of more spending and engorged government control over our lives, really our very lives, is too much.
Tracked: Jun 24, 13:42
Do “Democrats Present Hurdles for Obama,” or do basic truths? Those who say they’re confused or that some issue is complex usually are avoiding seeing basic truths. This is the case with health care “reform” and with the broader matter of gov
Tracked: Jun 29, 13:58