Tuesday, January 26, 2010
If the various pieces of the healthcare reform legislation in Congress are taken apart and considered separately, Americans are in favor of most everything. But when they are asked about the complete package, reactions seem to range from disappointment to outrage.
Polling data compiled by The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation shows strong support for about a dozen different reform elements, and milder support for yet another dozen proposed changes to the healthcare system. Consider that the following ideas enjoy anywhere from 52% to 73% backing from respondents to the Kaiser Foundation’s January 2010 survey:
Tax credits to small businesses 73%
Health insurance exchange 67%
Won’t change most people’s existing arrangements 66%
Guaranteed issue 63%
Medicaid expansion 62%
Extend dependent coverage through age 25 60%
Help close the Medicare doughnut hole 60%
Increased income taxes on wealthy 59%
Subsidy assistance to individuals 57%
Reduce the deficit 56%
Cover at least 31 million uninsured 56%
No federal money for abortion 55%
Limit age-adjusted rating 53%
Taxes on drug and device makers, insurers 53%
Public option 53%
Medical loss ratio 52%
No federal money for illegal immigrants 52%
Yet when Americans were asked if they support the congressional health reform proposals in general, only 42% said yes, while 41% said no.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Comments