Health reform doesn’t strike public’s fancy

A new opinion poll by the Galen Institute shows that 71% of Americans oppose an individual mandate to buy health insurance, despite a penalty of only $750 a year.

The Virginia-based organization, which focuses on free-market health care reform and tax policies, also found that 68% of surveyed respondents are against reducing Medicare benefits to pay for health reform and 58% oppose taxing the middle class to pay for health reforms. In addition, 71% of those surveyed are concerned that if Congress passes health care legislation, then their current health insurance will change.

The nationwide random survey was conducted Oct. 8-11, 2009 and involved 510 adults. The Galen Institute commissioned the marketing firm International Communications Research, a Pennsylvania-based outfit, to conduct the poll. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.34 percentage points.

“These findings illustrate strong opposition to fundamental aspects of the bills moving through Congress,” says Galen Institute President Grace-Marie Turner. “What the public does favor is a targeted approach to solving problems in our health sector, but not a complete Washington-style overhaul of one-sixth of our economy. Washington’s failure to listen is causing great apprehension and concern among the public,” she adds.

Other key findings from the survey included:

* Only 21% said they would support a law that required them to obtain private or public health insurance approved by the government or pay a tax of $750 or more every year.
* More than half (54%) of all respondents indicate a “strong” opposition to the individual mandate, including 58% of those 45-54 years of age and 58% of those 55 years and older.
* About 60% of respondents disagree, most of them “strongly” (44%), with the following statement: “I would support an increase in taxes on the working and middle class if it would help provide health insurance to more Americans.” Only 39% support the position.

* Seventy-one percent noted that they were worried their current health insurance would change if Congress enacted health reform legislation. One-quarter (25%) said they were not concerned. Groups with the highest level of concern include: people 55 years and older (84%), those aged 45-54 (80%), Republicans (82%), and Independents (78%).