Poll: Americans Want Government Run Health Care, But Won’t Use It

By Sam Wechsler – Talk Radio News Service

Quinnipiac University Polling Institute released a new poll Wednesday morning that sheds light on Americans’ health care views. The institute found that 69 percent of voters say Americans should have the option of government run health insurance, but only 28 percent said that they would use it.

In addition, 72 percent of voters would be unwilling to pay over $500 a year, or $1.40 a day, for health care reform. Forty-five percent would be unwilling to pay any taxes at all.

“Voters will be very happy to have business pay for this or to have the rich pay for it, but if you get past that they are much less willing to spend their money for a health care overhaul,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the polling institute.

Despite the majority of voters saying there should be the option of government run health insurance, 49 percent are “very satisfied” with their current plans, and 36 percent are “somewhat satisfied.” However, only 52 percent believe that most Americans receive a “good value” for the money they spend on health care.