Another Poll Shows Majority Support for Single-Payer
A New York Times/CBS News poll released last week shows, yet again, that the majority of Americans support national health insurance.
The poll, which compares answers to the same questions from 30 years ago, finds that, “59% [of Americans] say the government should provide national health insurance, including 49% who say such insurance should cover all medical problems.”
Only 32% think that insurance should be left to private enterprise.
Framing the question may evoke the desired response. National health insurance should be purged from our vernacular.
Single-payer universal healthcare (aka healthcare coverage) — devoid of those pesky exclusions, exorbitant deductibles, erratic co-pays, non-existent preventive medicine, etc. — offers the prospect of actually funding necessary healthcare for all Americans. A unique concept opposed by free marketers, the fiscally self-indulgent, sociopaths, and narcissists … single-payer, while offensive to the corrupt, corruptible, and corrupted, … has the virtue of facilitating longer and more qualitative lives.
Let’s give it a shot! We can always go back to being stolen blind … death for lack of access … optimizing suffering … and rewarding greed if single-payer proves to be a burden to a more perfect government.
To Gary,You sound like a democrat politition,useing all those big fancy words,and not saying anything worth listning to except for us idots to believe you.Go back to doing what ever political job you have and leave the thinking to us.
Thank you
Well, yo ugot one thing right…you are an idiot.
In response to Gaetano, his own message does not evidence much thinking. But none of us should ever leave the thinking to someone else, particularly if that someone else doesn’t first appear to be listening, such as those referred to as “us.”
how is it selfish to want to do with your own money as you please, but it is “compassionate” to want to use other peoples money as you please?
why is it patriotic to pay for the killing of people half way around the world but socialist to want me and my country to be taken care of by my tax dollars?
Because that is socialist. You are also taking other peoples money. Killing people half way around the world actually keeps us alive, because the sane mind would rather not be dead. They may not seem like a danger, but I gaurantee you, the second we pull out too soon, the terrorists will go “We defeated the Americans with our perserverance.” That will be a huge recruiting mechanism. I agree that Iraq was a mistake, but we have to clean up our mess, because no one else will.
why do ppl seem to think socialist is a bad word?
it isnt about “using other peoples money” its about everyone helping each other. Mean while, you prefer the idea of gripping your money tight while staring at the sick person dying, their outstreched hand within reach and you do nothing but tell them to “get a job” it is down right evil greed.
the system works better, the WHO ranks us 37th, and all 36 who r doing better have universal care. and the thing is.. you would be paying less… most ppl r paying close to 10-20% of their income for insurance, when universal care only needs about a 6% tax hike to work. so the “why should i pay” idea is all BS, really its “i would rather pay more so i have care and you dont, than pay less so we both have it.”
It’s not selfish to buy your own rules so that you can take most of the country’s money and investment it in high risk, high personal profit vehicles that will kill the American housing market and drive people from their homes? It’s not selfish to buy your own rules so that those same poorly paid people pay for the roads, bridges, and communications systems that you use to take away their earnings for your profit? It’s not selfish to stick people with $34,000 salaries so that you can get another million in your bonus? Isaac, what exactly is your definition of selfish, anyway?
A point most seem to ignore ,,if we had single payer it would actually be a basic medical coverage,,Nothing would stop anyone from seeking and purchasing additional care,,
People love listening to anyone tell them they can get free healthcare.
Re-run the poll after explaining the level of taxation required to support such a system. 50% income tax, 17% national sales tax, and we’ll still be running huge deficits.
I’m glad Medicare is used as the example of what a single-payer system would look like. Medicare only pays 80% of the costs (you’re stuck with the rest) and it’s going bankrupt. Expand it massively? Sounds brilliant.
you are an idiot , Medicare suck because the hospitals and the drug industry charges whatever they want. Our tax money goes on waste. We need to regulate the price that the hospitals and the drug industry charge to reduce expending. Why is that hospitals charge 40k for 5 days on the emergency room?. The only way single payer would work is if we abolish the insurance industry and work directly with hospitals and the drug industry.
You can’t always go back. YOU must enjoy the fruits of YOUR labor, not someone elses. That is called stealing. It is not greed, it is morals. Where do you think this money comes from? It comes from us and it is being given to other people. Many who can also pay for health insurance.
Why is the WHITE HOUSE AFRAID to TAKE a POLL or a PETITION for HR676 Universal Health Care ? I know the Bill would Pass ! Every Single Person is Blown away from Never have Heard about it and when they reead it they all Ask How do we get it and want it ! I think something is very FISHY SMELLING in America’s White House /Something should of already been said about HR676 all the TIME ! We need SOMETHING Besides what is going on NOW ? Nothing is being done or SAID in Washinton or in the MEDIA .I have E-Mailed over 3,000 E-mails ALONE …I Know there are others just like me …because I have been going out on a limb and talking to people …any people who will listen …And like I said EVERYONE WANTS HR676 NOW !
yet another poll shows that, despite the rhetoric in Washington DC, most Americans support a single payer national health care plan. The failure of our government to even consider this option is a blatant case of big money special interests getting their way over the will of the people. So much for Democracy….
I compare dealing with health insurance companies to solve America’s healthcare problem to dealing with Al Queda to solve America’s terrorism problem.. The only difference is about 10,000 American’s have been killed by terrorism since 9/11..Over 150,000 Americans have died at the hands of health insurance companies since 9/11.The insurance companies who deny coverage,or make the cost of insurance out of the reach of a lot of Americans.. Still our government turns a blind eye to this travesty..The people in this country overwhelmingly want a single payer system..It’s the special interest puppets who we call our representatives who fight it’s passage..All in the name of profit!!We need to continue to make our voices heard in support of HR676..
Did you ever think why so few people are killed by terrorism? It is because we took action.
Health Care is not a right, it is a privelege. We don’t have enough doctors for 300,000,000 people. Where is everyone going to go?
Why should I pay for someone elses health insurance, especially if I had a mediocre job myself?
The doctor needs to be working for me, not the government.
If you wanna stop poverty, don’t make the poor comfortable with being poor.
Also, America can’t survive on China forever. The chinese are making shorter duration bonds with us.
Could you tell a small family buisness to close down their shop because they can’t pay for their employees health insurance?
Ponder on all of these things.
your an idiot.. millions of people dying is ok to you as long as you get to keep your money right? how f*cking greedy is that? so your basically ok with all poor people just sitting around with cancer, std’s, diabetes, etc and unable to get care until they suffer to the point of death, as long as the rich can get the care they want.. thats what your saying…
the FACT is that UHC works better, and costs less for 95% of the people. this is obvious when the World Health Organization ranked the US 37th!! in the world in healthcare, while we spend 2-3 TIMES more than what the next closest country spends. why? because all that money goes to helping the top 30% while the other 70% DIE!!! and the countries ranked 1st-36th? ALL UNIVERSAL CARE… and u can say “well the prince of blah blah came to america for..” ONLY RICH PEOPLE GET GOOD HEALTHCARE IN US..EVERYONE ELSE SUFFERS.
Sorry to inform you but the WHO rankings are completely skewed. How do compare a country of 300 million people to ones with 1-2 million??? You should spend some time researching the criteria and you will be astonished to find out that the US ranks number one in all the main categories. Let me see… best doctors, technology, waiting time to see physicians, etc…. What factors influence your decision when you chose a physician? I guarantee its not long wait times, poor service, rationing, and denial of necessary diagnostic studies.
Get your facts straight and appreciate our great country. If not, I will happily buy you a one-way ticket to a socialist hellhole like Venezuela.
Is it really surprising that a Congress that has been bought with HMO special-interest money is not interested in giving the American people what Congressional members themselves have always enjoyed — namely, quality, affordable health care? Alas, fellow Americans, our leaders have spent our hard-earned tax dollars on killing and maiming innocent people abroad and neglecting their own citizens at home. Oh, yes, and giving hundreds of billions of dollars to the wealthiest bankers and financiers in the country with carte blanche to spend it on obscene salaries and bonuses. If this sounds like a recipe for a revolution, you’re right! See you in the streets!!
Let’s keep up the pressure for single payer. Congress and the Administration should not be allowed to get away with trying to hoodwink the people that single payer is not an option.
Obama himself said in the early days of his campaign that single payer is the way to go, but that “if he had it to do over” he would put it into place. That is no excuse. The longer we put it off, the worse things get.
Keep calling, faxing, and mailing your members of Congress and the President. Members of Congress think they are free to do what they want, not represent those who elected them. Look at what Judd Gregg said today as he was taking his name out of the running for Commerce.
THE FIRST CONCEPT OF INSURANCE IS TO SPREAD THE RISK AMONG THE LARGEST GROUP OF PEOPLE AND CHARGE ACCORDINGLY. WELL, THE LARGEST GROUP OF PEOPLE WOULD BE EVERYBODY. SO, THAT ALONE, IN ECONOMIC TERMS, MEANS A MONOLOPY. MONOPOLIES HAVE EXISTED FOR GENERATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY; HOWEVER, THEY ARE WELL RGULATED AND OVERSIGHT IS STRICT. WELL, IN HEALTHCARE WE HAVE OVERSIGHT AND WE HAVE THE FDA AND WE HAVE THE 1ST AMENDMENT IN CASE ALL ELSE FAILS.
As pointed out by Simon Johnson in his Atlantic Magazine article, the economy of this country, like Russia’s, China’s and others, is run by an oligarchy. Why Obama doesn’t break loose from them, and use the resources of Democracy puzzles me. He has the brains to do it, the people are behind him, and if he would show the necessary courage experts would come out of the woodwork to develop an economic and technical system, that would solve not only our credit problems, but also our abysmal and corrupt health, transportation, and education systems. I am not asking Obama to crush the oligarchy but to liberate himself from it so that their selfish interests should not stand in the way of what should be done to create an effective system for society, which to use his words, WORKS (for the society).
We need Health Care not Health Insurance. Insurance is a ridiculous concept when it comes to Health Care
Regardless of when this is posted, this day is June 22, 2009. We are experiencing one of the worse moments in our history, in that 100 thousands upon thousands are being foreclosed upon and as many have lost their life savings, not to mention the credit card debt most are experiencing.
Now is the time for ALL OF US to write to our representatives and insist, plead or beg for free healthcare. It would be the most sensible, positive and AMERICAN thing any or all of our congressmen/women and/or senators could do for the Americans they are supposed to be in office FOR. NOW is the time to ask THEM to be patriotic and garner the American gratitude. Americans in general are feeling as if the Government let them down. The Government may and probably has done just that (by OUR lack of concentrated effort to change things). So what better move than for the Government to be swift (as England was after WWII) and implement free healthcare to win the public. Appeal and cause gratitude. Smart. Would be very very smart for every politician to turn their backs on the pharmaceautical and AMA related payoffs. Smart to BE for the people.
Make friends and recapture the trust of the American people. Hope someone in government reads this and understands what that really means…The common American people as a group is much much much bigger than the so-called ‘powers that be’, therefore of greater importance to the USA as a whole. A healthy, happy public is a useful public when/IF The #@%%#&*^%# hits the fan. As Micheal said…
WE NEED TO TURN THE U.S.A. AND ALL THE AMAZING AMERICANS LIVING HERE INTO ‘WE’….. NOT ‘ME’.
Obama and the congress need to read the constitution: “Provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare”. When you are being attacked by forces outside you, it’s the responsibility of the government to protect you. Traditionally, we have interpreted to mean foreign powers, fire damage and criminals. Now, we have to add to the list disease and injury.
What the poll actually asked:
Should the government in Washington provide national health insurance, or is this something that should be left only to private enterprise?</em
The poll did not ask about single payer, and even I know that “national health insurance” does not equate to “single only payer.” On the contrary, “left only to” implies only a public option. The fact that an organization like Healthcare-Now doesn’t know this may go a long way towards explaining why there has been so little progress towards universal coverage in this country. With “friends” like these muddying the waters, intentionally or out of ignorance, it doesn’t need any enemies.
If my Husband didn’t have medicaid he would have been dead along time ago. Medicaid does help those people who are like ourselves on a very limited income and can’t afford or qualify for private insurance because of pre-existing conditions etc.
If we as Americans don’t stand up for our rights the Government will take over what rights we have left. So I am saying we do not need a health insurance program like Canada has in place. I believe that Medicare & Medicaid can survive if we just put the Government libieal for dipping into the Social Security Funds and spending our retirement fund for other programs,their vacations,luxury items etc. I believe if we made all of the Senators,Congressman and even the President live on a limited income for a year of less than $6000.00 to $8000.00 a year they would realize that their families couldn’t even afford their debts. SO LET US STAND UP FOR OUR COUNTRY and STOP alot of this wasteful spending.
Single-payer is the only way to go, as far as I can see. With a chronic illness, the prospect of living back in the US (we’re in Sweden) is frightening!
Many physicians and nurses as well as the middle class and the poor are all asking for a single payer system — all but insurance and pharmaceutical companies (and their paid-for representatives). Are we talking Health Care — or the bottom line of insurance and pharmaceutical companies? Obama campaigned on change… and I believe that he CAN keep his word but it will take commitment. I think that anyone reading these comments can see that we are asking for a single payer system. Those who says that this system won’t work are dismissing the success of the Medicare System. Those in Congress do not have our worries about health care — we pay for an excellent health care plan for them… We need quality health care as well — but within a single-payer system… To cave in to Republican pressure and insurance/drug lobbies at this point is to abandon the campaign slogan of being “the Change that We Believe in!”
I am a licensed insurance agent. If single-payer option is passed by congress, it will make it hard if not impossible for me to make money. I STILL WANT IT. It just makes sense for us to have a single payer option. The benefits of of such a plan to our country far out way the negatives in my honest opinion.
look all the wolrd knows single payeris coming to america itis not about if but when- i proposed hmo single payer sao 2,000,000 people donotlose trhier jobs but the system is so broekn the hmo’s are so bloody tight and the doctorsd feel trapped- maybe we have to become one big mayo clinic or virginia mason- that would mean lotsof infrastructure and create millionsof jobs-you want your doctor to care about you-if the doctor is a businessman and has to worry about paying 12 nuses and secretaries in effect he is a businesspersonand not a true physicians the younger doctors wants to be real doctors and not business people my genration was businesspeople- americans should go to the polls in 2011 and decide do they want doctors interestedin them or businessman and businesswomen who incidentally are physicans to treat them. at mayo clinic and mason clinic you the patient counts-doctoriragruber@att.net
Why in this country we are not allowed to VOTE on the most important things in this country, war, healthcare, ect. People talk of socialism when speaking about single payer healthcare…but what is not being able to vote on these issues, not democracy.
From a citizen point of view, it feels like our government would rather see everything fail and come apart at the seams than to actually listen to what the people really want. Looks like only money talks and nothing else matters. Democracy???
I’ve read the current healthcare bill. It stinks to high heaven and it’s riddled with pork barrel spending on special “pet projects,” for a handful of more prominent, more visible Senators. Can’t we axe these projects and create a St. Judes-like hospital but one for adults?
The Goal: Put one in every major city within 3 years and fund that program tomorrow. These will be government run hospitals but like St. Judes, they will accept donations from wealthy investors who want to see their family name on a shiny gold plaque for an entire Cancer ward. So just like AIG and the banks, the government gets paid back for the loans you make or for the hospitals you build.
Any adult who needs treatment for cancer, a broken bone, leukemia, depression, sleep apnea… no one gets turned away because they cannot afford to pay.
I’d be happy to donate 10% of my measly paycheck towards that. So instead of me flying to France to get free medical treatment, I could be driving to Albuquerque to get treated by American doctors instead. We have Doctors without Borders who take sabbaticals and go to foreign countries to use their skills to help people.
Why can’t these same American doctors help Americans? The St. Jude-like hospitals for adults is where these surgeons can spend their sabbatical and why not give them a tax break as an incentive for doing this?
America seems to love Realty TV. So let’s give them more. One of the networks creates a new reality TV show, call it “House Call.” It’s a live TV show of doctors similar to Extreme Makeover. A staff of doctors will read sad letters from Americans suffering from illnesses who are in need of a heart transplant, cancer treatment, reconstructive surgery, etc. Part of the medical expenses are paid for in part by commercials and by the pharmacy and insurance companies who seem to have plenty of money to waste on TV commercials and buying Congressmen.
I have a question. If you are accused of a crime and can’t afford a lawyer one will be provided for you. Would this be called Socialistic Justice.Eisenhower built the interstate highway system with Government money. If you don’t like Socialism, stay off our highways. Get over it. It’s just a word, it’s not the boogeyman.
Let’s get Health Reform passed now.
Lol just because you have a mean spirited hateful crowd screaming at the whitehouse like animals doesnt mean your anti healthcare views are popular, why is it wrong to keep your money and let children die for lack of insurance. hmmm let me think.. i see its something called the bible thats why idiots. you call yourselves children of God , yet you could care less about anyone but yourselves. if you people were more God like we wouldnt need this bill , but we cant count on people like you to give a sh**T
By looking at the comments below, it seems as if the arguing parties are more focused on calling each other names than addressing each others concerns. Be proactive. Try to understand each other before you seek to be understood, you may gain a new perspective. Here’s the truth, it is not selfish to want to have control of your own money. It’s not a desire to watch people die. It’s the desire to be an individual, to perceive healthcare as a privilege that must be worked for, to EARN (not get)the kind of medical care you want for your self and for your family, to take care of your health to the best of your ability — to be responsible for yourself. I understand that there are people who cannot afford adequate healthcare, if any at all. But what will this country come to if everyone has equal access to the same level of healthcare? It will become inefficient. Firstly because, people will hesitate to pursue a career in the medical field because the pay will go down, inevitably, if it is federally ran. Yes, “wealthy” people could still seek private practices if they wanted to, but while they’d be paying taxes for other people’s healthcare. I’d rather have something to work for, than to not have the incentive to work and get inadequate healthcare for free in return. And those who are working their asses off receive the same inefficient healthcare as others. That is unfair. That is evil.
Its well past time to ensure that each and every American citizen has the right to health care. I think its a moral distinction that separates us from many of the facist, and dictatorships around the globe that we spend billions supporting each and every year.
Its time to re-examine our priorities,and place the needs of our own people above those who would prefer to see our great experiment in government fail.
Man-up Congress. Do the right thing, or face term limits where we can hopefully find a few Statesmen to replace the politicians who choose to make most of the effort at ensuring the contribution from the American Medical Association.
It would be helpful if the 32% voting against universal healthcare could teach those who can’t afford health care or who have been denied coverage for one reason or another how to live in the economic universe they want but clearly do not understand. Do they really think it’s possible for people earning the current low and stagnant average wage to live a decent life under the Ryan plan?
People listen up, we already are paying for government health care. The main problem is that we all cannot benefit from it. Another issue is that it is broken up so it we don’t really think about it. What? Really? Listen up 1. We pay for all government officials to have healthcare. This money comes out of the taxes that we pay. 2. We pay taxes for all military personnel to have healthcare. 3. We pay taxes for all civil service employees to have healthcare. 4. Look at your paystubs. Medicare is government health care that we all pay for. 5. We all pay state taxes, in all different forms, federal income taxes, sales tax, property tax and in some states state income taxes. Also, included in the taxes that we pay is what is called “Charity Care”. Charity care can be applied for when we have emergency treatment and we do not qualify and do not have Medicare or Medicaid or any other health care. Sometimes you won’t even qualify for Charity care because you are not dirt poor enough. We don’t really think about any of this, because some of these taxes don’t come directly out of our paychecks, while other taxes do. State taxes such as property tax, sales tax, etc. pays for State healthcare plans such as Medicaid and Family care or Kidcare. Hear it again people, WE ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE! At least six (6) separate plans! I will say it again, “we” are paying for at least six different government healthcare plans right now and we always have been. America, you are being lied to by health insurance companies and politicians who would like you to believe that you will pay more out of your paycheck.
1. We are actually paying MORE money right now for all of these separate government health care plans than we would for ONE universal plan that would cover everyone. Those of you that are complaining about not wanting to have to pay more money, Stop! You are already paying for it out of your paycheck and through all of these different taxes. We don’t notice it as much because only some of it comes directly out of our pay.
What is wrong is that we are all paying for something that we cannot and many of us will NOT EVER benefit from it. How many of us will have incomes low enough to collect state Medicaid? Kidcare? Familycare? How many of us will grow old enough to collect Medicare from the Federal government?
2. If we had a Universal Healthcare plan that would cover all Americans than we would not need all of these separate healthcare plans that we are now paying for, but get no benefit from. We would have one instead of six and pay for only one instead of what we are now paying for six. How do you feel about paying out all of this money for something you cannot ever use? I for one think it is a horrible injustice to all of the American People.
The fact is that employers are paying less & less for their employees health insurance each year and the employee is paying more & more for it each year with out of pocket premiums plus large deductibles such as $5000 to $10,000 per year. Last year I myself paid over $15,000 out of my own pocket for health insurance premium, plus deductible and coinsurance. We are paying MORE by having all of these Federal and State plans than we would for one plan for everyone. The majority of us want the Federal Government to give us Health CARE, but there is a minority that is against it. They want us to believe that we would pay 75% of our salaries to pay for it! What a down right lie, misleading, misinformation, complete lie this is. The money that we are already paying for these Federal and State Government Health plans could be used for health care for every US citizen. Listen up.
Canada has universal healthcare and they DO NOT pay anything like 75% of their paychecks. In Canada Federal income taxes are 15% to 29% depending on your salary, in the US we pay 10% to 35% in Federal income taxes out of our pay checks. Most European countries have Universal Government Health Care for all of their Citizens and not one of them pay anything near any 75% for it. It is just a gross exaggeration to scare the American public into not wanting it. Health Insurers want to keep their extremely high profits and they don’t want to share them with the US Government. That is the real issue. We are being lied to and many of us are swallowing it hook line & sinker. This hurts all of us not only some of us. Right now we are all paying for Government Health Insurance only the majority of us can’t benefit from it? Does that make any darn sense at all? No it does not, but it has been going on for over 100 years! So what are we going to do about it?
Look at your paycheck how much do you pay out of each paycheck for Medicare? How old were you when you had your first paid job? I was fourteen years old when I began working a part-time job. Some of us are fortunate enough not to have to begin working until college or after college, but that is a minority not the majority.
I calculated if you begin working at 16 years of age and go on Medicare at age 67 you will have paid out approximately $52,785 in premium for Medicare by that time. Now if you work until you are 70 years of age that is more like $56,925. That is a lot of money to pay out for Medicare that you might never use and if you do use it how long will you live to use it? Will you live a month, one year, two years, five years or 10 years after you begin receiving Medicare? How do you know you will ever live long enough to receive it? As an example, the age now is 70 years old to start receiving Medicare, if you happen to live to be 75 years of age, which would be five years after you start receiving it, you will have paid almost $12,000 per year just to have had that coverage for those five years, and so on. That amount does not include the additional thousands of dollars you’re paying in state income taxes & property taxes, and sales taxes, for people to have Medicaid and other state health plans such as Kid care or Family Care. So if you add in what we pay in state income tax & property taxes, depending on what state that you live in and what plans that they provide, each of us is already paying out at least $100,000 per work life time for government health insurance that the majority of us will never use.(For those who rent your property tax is included in your rent, don’t think that you aren’t paying it.) So let the minority of people stop screaming about having to pay for government health care that most of us will use, we are already paying for government health care that the majority of us will never use or will not have the opportunity to use until we are old and don’t have much life left to live.
I will fully support your single-payer petitions and platforms as long as I’m allowed to opt-out.
Yeah, I didn’t think so.
So good to hear that the majority of Americans are supporting single payer! We cannot get it soon enough here in America. People are finally waking up and seeing that even with insurance they are suffering bankruptcy!! People have a choice between the failed private system or single payer. What do we have to lose folks???? Cant get any worse than what we already have!
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