Posted on 07/16/2009 8:44:35 PM PDT by Mount Athos
Americans are unsure that a healthcare reform bill introduced this week is the solution to problems with the U.S. healthcare system, according to a poll created and commissioned by a public policy expert at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
"By a 50-42 margin, Americans oppose the House of Representatives' bill introduced July 14," said S. Ward Casscells, M.D., vice president of external affairs and public policy and the John Edward Tyson Distinguished Professor in Cardiology at the UT Health Science Center at Houston. "This bill would call for most employers to sponsor health plans and would also create a Medicare-like plan for those under 65 who have no other health plan. The increased costs would be covered by increasing income taxes on individuals making more than $280,000 and families making more than $350,000."
According to the survey, which was conducted by Zogby International, most Americans are unwilling to pay higher taxes and instead favor more innovative approaches that would use the savings from improving care and curtailing waste and fraud to fund health care for the uninsured.
The results of the survey - the largest poll this year to examine American attitudes toward healthcare reform and legislation - were released during a National Press Club Newsmaker conference July 15 in Washington, D.C.
Key survey findings included that 84 percent of those who are currently insured are satisfied with their health care. For those without insurance, only 46 percent had some level of satisfaction with their health care. Almost 80 percent agreed that rising healthcare costs are hurting American businesses. An expanded role for government in health care is opposed by 48 percent of Americans, while 44 percent support it. Forty-six percent of respondents agreed that a public plan is needed to "keep insurance companies honest."
Most believe that people with pre-existing conditions should be eligible for health insurance. They also endorse the idea of higher premiums for those who smoke and/or refuse vaccines and cancer screening.
"These survey results establish the clearest and most up-to-date understanding of how Americans as a whole feel about their health, health care and, most importantly, the future of health care in America and the legislative options in front of them," Casscells said.
John Zogby, president and CEO of Zogby International, said, "In this wide-ranging poll we discovered that Americans want costs reduced and want to see everyone insured, but they are divided down the middle on how best to proceed. The likelihood of achieving consensus is low."
Larry R. Kaiser, M.D., president of the UT Health Science Center at Houston said, "As this survey demonstrates, quality health care is a top priority for Americans. At the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, we share this priority and we are leading the way in healthcare education, research and clinical care to provide the best outcomes for patients."
"We thank the Obama Administration and the Congress for their support for institutions such as ours and for their careful consideration of policy issues that will impact generations to come," said Kaiser, one of the survey authors. "I trust that this academic survey will be useful to them in their deliberations."
The online survey of 3,862 adults nationwide was conducted June 18-22, 2009, and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.6 percentage points.
Fine, now who thinks Congress gives a CRAP about what Americans think?
Your headline says 48-44% oppose it but the articles says 50-42% oppose it.
you’re right, I asked the admin to fix the title but they haven’t yet.
Check out my tagline. Case closed. Pray........
That was almost a month ago. I'd bet there are more against it now.
These numbers are before the truth gets out. No one I knows wants the government deciding if they live or die. Do you?? Time to get off the sidelines and stop this Nazi-era evil. They want power over your life; total power and control like any third-world dictatorship.
Just wait til Mark Kirk and Charlie Crist and Mark Kirk are in the Senate. Then they'll reallyyyyy not give a crap.
The healthcare of the American people is really none of BO’s GD business. He needs to keep his nosy ass out of my medical records.
Oui.
There will be a bipartisan (non-violent, mind you) revolt, once Mr. and Mr.s Sixpack learn that they will be herded into the "option" like cattle; however, the Congress has exempted itself.
.
Americans might be duped into buyin hopey changemas from a black santee clausen with the MSM singing xmas carols all season long, but when you start grinching with their lives and jamming all the stockings with socialist trinkets, they just might wake up to the wonerful way of life we enjoy. The democrats are thankfully more stupod than the republicans. November 2010 guaranteed to be a complete overhaul on the Hill. The arrogance of dope. Yeah, I know. We’ll remake 18% of the national economy on a partisan vote and hang the cost on entirely on the most productive quarter of the citizens. I love this.
It will be too late. Any politician calling for the repeal of socialized medicine will be Alinskyized by the state media and accused of wanting to kill sick minority children.
http://www.verumserum.com/?p=5660
Exclusive Video: The Public Plan Deception – It’s Not About Choice and Competition
YEAH!!!
ALSO:
Congress: Assure us that ILLEGALS are not covered under this plan. I am told they are covered only for EMERGENCY services, but illegals in CA have run us into the ground using emergency services for primary care.
How does this mean that we, as a nation, are not covering illegals for primary care!?
Good news!! Now if those reneagde dems can hold out against the thug machine.
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