Public Rejects Insurance Industry’s Misleading Claims: New Poll Shows

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Public Rejects Insurance Industry's Misleading Claims: New Poll Shows
Voters overwhelmingly support choice of private or public health insurance plan

Washington, DC – A new poll conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of Health Care for America Now (HCAN) found there is "intense and widespread voter support" for the choice of a public health insurance plan as part of comprehensive, national health care reform even when voters hear the sharpest insurance industry attacks such as a public health insurance plan would lead to lower quality health care, more expensive health care, or big government. In paired statements supporting and attacking a public health insurance plan, a majority of voters choose the statement backing a public health insurance option every time.

For example, 62% of voters believe a public health insurance plan will spend less on profits and administration and force private insurers to compete while only 28% of voters believe the attack that a public health insurance plan would be a "big, government bureaucracy." 60% believe that if private insurers are really more efficient than government, then they won't have any trouble competing with a public health insurance plan.  Only 23% believe a public health insurance plan would have an unfair advantage over private plans.

While recent polling has shown consistent broad support for comprehensive health care reform, this poll specifically addressed whether people want a choice of a public health insurance plan. The answer is an overwhelming yes: 73% of voters want a choice of a private or public health insurance plan, including Democrats (77%), Independents (79%), and Republicans (63%). 

"Voters strongly value having a choice of private or public health insurance plans and support having the guaranteed, affordable coverage that a public health insurance plan provides. They also believe that a public health insurance plan will help contain costs in ways that private insurers have failed to do," said Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners.

Health Care for America Now – the nation's largest health care campaign – is organizing grassroots action in 42 states to tell Congress to join President Obama and support quality, affordable health care for all in 2009 that gives everyone a choice of a new private health insurance plan.

"Including the choice of a new public health insurance plan in comprehensive health care reform is the only way to bring down costs and force private insurance companies to compete," said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager for Health Care for America Now.  "We need a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all in 2009, and the public clearly understands the importance of having a choice of a private or public health insurance plan. The public clearly understands it's how we hold insurance companies accountable and guarantee we will have quality, affordable health care when we need it."

Other Key Findings:
·   61% think a public health insurance plan will be better able to control health care costs by using its purchasing power to drive competition. Only 25% believe a public health insurance plan will shift higher costs onto the privately insured.
·   61% agree that millions of people are already losing their coverage every year, and a choice of private or public health insurance plans will make sure that Americans always have quality, affordable care. Only 27% believe the claim that a public health insurance plan will cause millions of people to be dumped from their private coverage
·   Two thirds (66%) agree that a public health insurance plan will provide a choice with a standard, comprehensive package of benefits and a wide choice of doctors. Only 26% believe a public health insurance plan will force people into lower quality care including rationing and long waits.

Download Lake Research Poll Memo (pdf): http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/-/documents%20for%20download/Memo.HCAN.f3.012809.pdf

Download the Lake Research Presentation (ppt): http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/-/documents%20for%20download/Presentation.PublicPlan.f4.012308.ppt

Dennis Spisak

Mahoning Valley Green Party
Ohio Green Party

www.ohiogreens.org
www.votespisak.org/thinkgreen/