Voters in 2004 as Concerned About U.S. Health Care System as in 1992, Survey Finds
Voters in 2004 have a similar level of anxiety about the U.S. health care system as voters did in 1992, when former President Bill Clinton introduced a universal health plan, according to a survey released Wednesday by the American Hospital Association, CongressDaily reports. The survey of more than 2,000 U.S. residents polled earlier this month was conducted by Republican pollster Bill McInturff and Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg. According to the survey, 60% of voters said that the health care system was meeting their individual needs -- lower than the percentage of voters who said the same in 1992, according to CongressDaily. Voters' leading concern after the "economy and jobs" is "affordable health care," and health care tied with "terrorism and national security" is the issue voters said should be the highest priority for Congress and the president, CongressDaily reports. In addition, 74% of voters said that the health care system is not meeting the needs of most U.S. residents, and nearly 70% said that they would be willing to pay higher taxes to provide health care coverage for every U.S. resident. Although more voters who identified themselves as Democrats said that they were willing to raise taxes, 54% of Republican voters also said that they were willing to do so. The median amount of increase voters said that they would pay was $200, compared with a median response of $60 to $80 for voters in 1992. Greenberg said, "We're back at the moment where health care is on the public agenda," adding, "Health care in a comprehensive way can no longer be off the agenda" (Werber Serafini, CongressDaily, 1/14). The survey results are available online.
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