What the Latest Polls Show on Health Care
By Ron Faucheux, CQ Guest Columnist
Harry Truman fretted that every economic adviser he consulted would tell him, “On one hand . . . but on the other hand.” He longed for a one-armed economist.
As today’s politicians look at polls on the health care issue, they face the same frustrating quandary.
On one hand, Americans believe that the health care system needs fundamental change. But on the other hand, they’re happy with the quality of their own care and don’t want medical options limited by bureaucrats.
Voters are willing to allow government to play a bigger role when it comes to cutting costs and expanding coverage. But they also fear the implications of expanded government intervention.
For example, according to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, 72 percent of Americans support a government-run health insurance option.
But despite this expression of support, 63 percent of those surveyed said they were very or somewhat concerned that the quality of their own health care would get worse if the government sets up a program to provide health care for all Americans. Also, 68 percent were very or somewhat concerned that their own access to medical tests and treatment would be more limited under such a system.
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