Poll Reveals Public Fear of Government Health Care

SeaMax ^ | 7/3/2003 | Fr. Michael Reilly

[Hugenot]

As Congress fights over health care coverage, the public is expressing support for private sector options.

A recent Zogby poll reveals that

--82% of all voters surveyed and 67% of seniors agree that “seniors should have the option of picking a private health plan approved by the Medicare program to provide their health benefits.”

--Only 16% of seniors believe that the Senate drug plan would be better than the one they have, while 74% said no.

--Only 42% of seniors without drug coverage said they would be likely to buy the new policy.

--66% fear that a government-controlled prescription drug program could interfere with their current private plans and create a dependency on government.

--78% were concerned that government involvement could lead to government control of drug research and development.

--51% fear that government control would limit drug choice, while 43% believe that their doctor would still be in charge.

--77% overall and 80% of seniors say that believe that seniors should pay something for their drugs to avoid over-burdening the medicaire system.

--Voters were evenly split – 44% to 44% -- over whether the federal government or private health plans would secure lower drug prices for seniors.

--49% indicated that research and development of new drugs is more important than lowering prices. 40% favored lowering prices.

This survey is bad news for Democrats planning the 2004 campaign for government control of health care.

[Alberta's Child]

Based on these poll results, it looks like the public knows exactly what this Medicare prescription drug plan is all about. It's not intended to be a $400 million "entitlement" for the benefit of our senior citizens -- it's a $400 billion corporate welfare package that will remove future retiree health care obligations from the bottom lines of every major U.S. corporation.

[cardinal4]

Even most of the lefties I spar with often, balk at govt controlled healthcare.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[upchuck]

Even most of the lefties I spar with often, balk at govt controlled healthcare.

Probably because Hillary!care back in 92/93 scared the He11 of them. I know it did me. Damn near caused my medical software business to go under.

Thank you sooooooo much, Hildabeaste!!

[The Great RJ]

Anyone know why prescription drugs cost less in Canada???--it's simple the government sets the price that they (the national health care system) want to pay.

The pharmaceutical companies respond by simply shifting their Canadian losses to other markets, i.e., the US, in the form of higher prices --like the old adage robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[goldstategop]

No one wants CanadaCare here. And the problem with Congress' prescription drug plan is you have to pay up front to a stated amount before the coverage will kick in for you. No wonder people aren't interested once they learn the details. They still won't get covered for "free," meaning with other people's money.

[Aquinasfan]

This sounds too good to be true. Most seniors that I know want free stuff.

[goldstategop]

Which they're not going to get any time soon.

[E Rocc]

Anyone know why prescription drugs cost less in Canada???--it's simple the government sets the price that they (the national health care system) want to pay

I believe the pharmaceutical companies also have significantly less tort risk there. That's why "prescription" drugs are cheaper in Mexico and Canada than the US, if you buy them there it's harder to sue the manufacturer.

-Eric

[E Rocc]

Most seniors that I know want free stuff.

They tend to be allergic to the idea of government control though.

-Eric