New Poll Suggests that Americans are Torn on Universal Health InsuranceFebruary 2008
A new poll shows that U.S. voters are divided on the issue of universal
health insurance, sometimes known as socialized medicine, which is a single-payer, government-run health care system.
Universal health care has been all over the news recently, as democratic presidential hopefuls, including Hillary Clinton, propose enacting a socialized medicine plan in order to provide medical coverage for the 47 million uninsured Americans.
The poll comes from the Harvard School of Public Health and Harris Interactive, and in taking the poll some not-so-surprising political divisions were found among those who did or didn't believe that universal health insurance would be a good thing in America.
Among Democrats, 70% said they thought socialized medicine would improve U.S. health care. And 70% of Republicans said they thought it would worsen
health care. As for independents, 43% said they thought socialized medicine would improve U.S. health care, 38% said it would worsen health care, 5% said it wouldn't make much difference, and 14% didn't know or didn't answer.
This division has been clearly reflected in the raging debates taking place regarding health care in America, especially as the primaries wind down and democrats still see a deadlock happening between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Those who support universal health insurance argue that Americans deserve better medical care, and that the costs saved in averting medical debts would make it economically useful to have one nationwide plan.
Facts on:
American Universal Health Insurance
Did you know...
45% of Americans who participated in a recent poll said they thought universal health insurance would improve health care, while 39% said they thought it would worsen health care?
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Detractors argue that universal health care is costly, and leads to a decrease in the quality of the overall care each person receives.
Whether or not socialized medicine will appear in this country will depend on everything from who wins the White House to what our country's budget can handle in 2009. But, since 2008 has only just begun, consumers are advised to hang on to the insurance policy they already have, or shop around for one that covers essential health needs at affordable prices.
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