Politics

Americans Continue To Support Health Insurance Reform

By Karina

New reports detailing shocking increases in insurance premiums across the country continue to roll in. Just today, we learned that premiums for individual health insurance plans in Connecticut increased on average more than 20% for 2010. These increases are simply unsustainable. The time for health reform is now.

According to a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll released today, 58 percent of Americans say they would be disappointed or angry if Congress stopped working on health reform now:

And despite calls from Republicans to ’scrap’ comprehensive reform, Americans across party lines overwhelmingly support the key elements of comprehensive health insurance reform ? all of which were included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act, legislation that passed the House in November, as well as the President?s new proposal:

76% believe it is extremely or very important to reform the way health insurance works. [85 percent of Democrats, 79 percent of Independents, 64 percent of Republicans]

72% say it is extremely or very important to provide tax credits to small businesses. [77 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of Independents, 67 percent of Republicans]

71% say it is extremely or very important to create a health insurance exchange. [78 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of Independents, 67 percent of Republicans]

71% believe it is extremely or very important to help close the Medicare prescription drug ?doughnut hole?. [78 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of Independents, 66 percent of Republicans]

70% believe it is extremely or very important to expand high risk insurance pools. [79 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Independents, 61 percent of Republicans]

68% say it is extremely or very important to provide financial help for low/middle income Americans. [88 percent of Democrats, 64 percent of Independents, 48 percent of Republicans]

Read the full poll»

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 23, 2010 (boomark / email).