Americans Want Free Lunch on Health Care

While some news reports suggests that health reform might be stalled, a new Gallup poll shows Americans support enacting health care reform by 56 percent to 33 percent. The catch is that they are more reluctant to pay for it.

The Obama administration often states that health care reform will serve two goals–improving access and reducing cost. I have been skeptical of the claims of cutting costs, with some of the measures likely to increase costs initially. The poll shows that when choosing these priorities 52 percent consider reducing costs more important while 42% prefer improving access.

I would suggest a third goal to promote health care reform–improving security. Besides the approximately 100 million who are now uninsured or under-insured, others who currently do have health care are at risk of losing coverage if they either lose their job or if they develop an expensive medical problem which the insurance companies would prefer not to pay for.

1 Comment

  1. 1
    Eclectic Radical says:

    America wants a free lunch on a plethora of issues. No one wants to lose their SS benefits, but no one wishes to refund the program when the time comes. Everyone wants Medicare to be there for them, but no one wants to pay for it.
     
    Of course, my favorite example is local… everyone one in my part of the country wants to continue to receive their food stamps, unemployment, disability, and AFDC… but they all vote for candidates who want to cut it. Because of abortion, gay rights, and race.
     
     

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