Americans Back Obama’s Health Goals Even as They Doubt Success
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By Kristin Jensen
Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Americans overwhelmingly approve of President Barack Obama’s goals for remaking the U.S. health- care system even as they express skepticism he can achieve them, according to a Bloomberg News poll.
More than 8 out of 10 people support covering the uninsured, curbing costs, creating an insurance-purchasing exchange, and preventing insurers from dropping coverage or refusing to accept people with preexisting medical conditions. Majorities say employers should have to offer insurance and individuals should be required to have coverage.
Americans are less sure of the plan as a whole. At least half say they don’t think Obama can fulfill promises such as passing legislation that doesn’t add to the federal budget deficit, preserving the Medicare trust fund and producing savings to help pay for drugs for Medicare patients.
“The debate seems to be about money, not about the need for reform,” says J. Ann Selzer, the president of Selzer & Co., a Des Moines, Iowa-based firm that conducted the poll. “When you look at specific planks, respondents like all of them.”
The poll conducted Sept. 10-14 finds that 48 percent of respondents favor Obama’s plan, while 42 percent oppose it. A Sept. 9 speech the president made to a joint session of Congress didn’t change most minds, as slightly more respondents say it made them more likely rather than less likely to favor the plan.
Deficit Worries
“I do think everyone should have health care, somehow,” says Judy Shaffer, 63, a poll respondent in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, who says Obama’s address didn’t change her opposition to his plan. “The deficit is going to go up so much higher. I think it’s really bad where it’s at right now.”
Poll respondents weren’t asked whether they favor a so- called public option, or government-run program, to compete with private insurers. Top Republicans and Democrats say the plan can’t pass the Senate, and the White House privately acknowledges it probably won’t make the final legislation.
Other aspects of Obama’s plan with broad support in Congress are backed in the poll.
“I like what he said that there will be no one turned down for an existing condition or if they can’t pay,” says Barbara Lightner, 61, a poll participant in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who lost her job and, with it, her insurance. “You’re made to feel like a third-class citizen when you don’t have insurance.”
Sixth of Economy
Lawmakers are trying to figure out how to expand coverage to millions of uninsured people and rein in rising health-care costs, which account for about one-sixth of the U.S. economy. They are grappling with issues such as whether to require employers to cover workers and how to pay for a plan that may top $900 billion over 10 years.
Three of four poll respondents support an employer mandate and 59 percent back the idea of requiring everyone to get health insurance, just as they’re obliged to have auto insurance to drive.
The poll also shows that Obama may have succeeded in using the speech to Congress to dispel some allegations spread about Democratic proposals. Majorities reject as distortions or scare tactics assertions that have served as talking points for opponents.
More than 6 out of 10 respondents say they don’t believe that Obama would set up “death panels” to decide who gets care or that government money would be used for abortions. Similar percentages reject the idea that Obama plans to ration care or cover illegal immigrants.
When asked if health care would become “socialized” under the White House proposals, 52 percent reject the notion; 43 percent say it was a legitimate concern.
Needs Fixes
More than 6 out of 10 poll respondents say the current health-care system has some problems that need to be fixed. Another 25 percent say it’s “badly broken” and 11 percent describe it as “really pretty good.”
Insurance companies are by far the biggest culprit for problems, participants in the poll say. Still, only half the respondents view health insurers unfavorably; more than half have unfavorable views of pharmaceutical companies.
Americans are happier about Medicare, the government program for the elderly, and their own providers, according to the poll. Almost 8 out of 10 have a favorable view of Medicare and even more approve of doctors and hospitals.
Even so, a slight plurality says it’s better to pass health-care overhaul legislation that may have some flaws and unexpected consequences than to do nothing at all. And 54 percent say Obama is doing more to reach out to Republicans than vice versa, compared with just 22 percent who say the Republicans are trying harder to find common ground.
Burden on Taxpayers
Lee Bailey, 67, a poll respondent in Gahanna, Ohio, says Obama’s speech made him more likely to support the health-care overhaul, though he still has concerns.
“People know that if you’re going to start insuring millions of people who aren’t insured, somebody’s going to pay for it,” Bailey says. “That’s Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer.”
The poll is based on interviews with 1,004 U.S. adults ages 18 or older. Interviewers contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell-phone numbers. Percentages based on the full sample may have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kristin Jensen in Washington at [email protected]
Last Updated: September 15, 2009 18:00 EDT
Share | Email | Print | A A A
By Kristin Jensen
Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Americans overwhelmingly approve of President Barack Obama’s goals for remaking the U.S. health- care system even as they express skepticism he can achieve them, according to a Bloomberg News poll.
More than 8 out of 10 people support covering the uninsured, curbing costs, creating an insurance-purchasing exchange, and preventing insurers from dropping coverage or refusing to accept people with preexisting medical conditions. Majorities say employers should have to offer insurance and individuals should be required to have coverage.
Americans are less sure of the plan as a whole. At least half say they don’t think Obama can fulfill promises such as passing legislation that doesn’t add to the federal budget deficit, preserving the Medicare trust fund and producing savings to help pay for drugs for Medicare patients.
“The debate seems to be about money, not about the need for reform,” says J. Ann Selzer, the president of Selzer & Co., a Des Moines, Iowa-based firm that conducted the poll. “When you look at specific planks, respondents like all of them.”
The poll conducted Sept. 10-14 finds that 48 percent of respondents favor Obama’s plan, while 42 percent oppose it. A Sept. 9 speech the president made to a joint session of Congress didn’t change most minds, as slightly more respondents say it made them more likely rather than less likely to favor the plan.
Deficit Worries
“I do think everyone should have health care, somehow,” says Judy Shaffer, 63, a poll respondent in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, who says Obama’s address didn’t change her opposition to his plan. “The deficit is going to go up so much higher. I think it’s really bad where it’s at right now.”
Poll respondents weren’t asked whether they favor a so- called public option, or government-run program, to compete with private insurers. Top Republicans and Democrats say the plan can’t pass the Senate, and the White House privately acknowledges it probably won’t make the final legislation.
Other aspects of Obama’s plan with broad support in Congress are backed in the poll.
“I like what he said that there will be no one turned down for an existing condition or if they can’t pay,” says Barbara Lightner, 61, a poll participant in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who lost her job and, with it, her insurance. “You’re made to feel like a third-class citizen when you don’t have insurance.”
Sixth of Economy
Lawmakers are trying to figure out how to expand coverage to millions of uninsured people and rein in rising health-care costs, which account for about one-sixth of the U.S. economy. They are grappling with issues such as whether to require employers to cover workers and how to pay for a plan that may top $900 billion over 10 years.
Three of four poll respondents support an employer mandate and 59 percent back the idea of requiring everyone to get health insurance, just as they’re obliged to have auto insurance to drive.
The poll also shows that Obama may have succeeded in using the speech to Congress to dispel some allegations spread about Democratic proposals. Majorities reject as distortions or scare tactics assertions that have served as talking points for opponents.
More than 6 out of 10 respondents say they don’t believe that Obama would set up “death panels” to decide who gets care or that government money would be used for abortions. Similar percentages reject the idea that Obama plans to ration care or cover illegal immigrants.
When asked if health care would become “socialized” under the White House proposals, 52 percent reject the notion; 43 percent say it was a legitimate concern.
Needs Fixes
More than 6 out of 10 poll respondents say the current health-care system has some problems that need to be fixed. Another 25 percent say it’s “badly broken” and 11 percent describe it as “really pretty good.”
Insurance companies are by far the biggest culprit for problems, participants in the poll say. Still, only half the respondents view health insurers unfavorably; more than half have unfavorable views of pharmaceutical companies.
Americans are happier about Medicare, the government program for the elderly, and their own providers, according to the poll. Almost 8 out of 10 have a favorable view of Medicare and even more approve of doctors and hospitals.
Even so, a slight plurality says it’s better to pass health-care overhaul legislation that may have some flaws and unexpected consequences than to do nothing at all. And 54 percent say Obama is doing more to reach out to Republicans than vice versa, compared with just 22 percent who say the Republicans are trying harder to find common ground.
Burden on Taxpayers
Lee Bailey, 67, a poll respondent in Gahanna, Ohio, says Obama’s speech made him more likely to support the health-care overhaul, though he still has concerns.
“People know that if you’re going to start insuring millions of people who aren’t insured, somebody’s going to pay for it,” Bailey says. “That’s Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer.”
The poll is based on interviews with 1,004 U.S. adults ages 18 or older. Interviewers contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell-phone numbers. Percentages based on the full sample may have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kristin Jensen in Washington at [email protected]
Last Updated: September 15, 2009 18:00 EDT
