Poll: Americans want health-care bill, but not cost

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WASHINGTON — Most Americans want a big health care bill passed this year, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, but they are less enthusiastic about paying for it.

And while a majority of respondents say controlling costs should be the legislation's top goal, more than 9 in 10 oppose limits on getting whatever tests or treatments they and their doctor think are necessary.

...

The poll of 3,026 adults, surveyed Friday through Sunday by landline and cellphone, has a margin of error of +/— 2 percentage points. Some of the questions, asked of half the sample, have an error margin of +/— 3 points.

By 56%-33%, those surveyed endorse the idea of enacting major health care reform this year.

...

Six of 10 favor the idea of requiring employers to provide health insurance to their workers or pay a fee to the government instead. The idea of increasing income taxes on upper-income Americans ... is backed by 58%.

However, by 53%-43% most oppose taxing health care benefits above a certain level ... and even more are against cutting Medicare costs. Savings in Medicare are part of both House and Senate versions of health care bills.

...

More than 8 in 10 of those surveyed say it's extremely or very important that the legislation make health insurance more affordable, but they also express strong resistance to some steps that might help control costs. Ninety-three percent want their health care plan to cover any medical test or treatment that they and their doctor think is needed, and 88% want to be able to choose any doctor or hospital they like.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/20...alth-care_N.htm

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Of course they don't want to pay for it. That's why they sit at home in their armchairs and let those nice folks in government do the hard thinking for them

[HAL 9000 96]

And I want good Coffee now.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

WASHINGTON — Most Americans want a big health care bill passed this year, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, but they are less enthusiastic about paying for it.

And while a majority of respondents say controlling costs should be the legislation's top goal, more than 9 in 10 oppose limits on getting whatever tests or treatments they and their doctor think are necessary.

Once we figure out how to get away from the fee-for-service model, what the doctor thinks is necessary will change dramatically and cost will be contained.