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The Spectacle Blog

Americans Fear "Reform" Will Raise Health Care Costs

By Doug Bandow on 1.1.10 @ 5:32AM

The American people ain't dumb. They realize what will happen when the government comes to "help" them on health care.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of voters nationwide say it's at least somewhat likely that the health care reform legislation working its way through Congress will cost more than projected. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 14% believe the costs are not likely to exceed projections.

Eighty-one percent (81%) also think passage of the legislation is at least somewhat likely to lead to higher middle-class taxes.

The survey finds that 68% believe the legislation will increase the federal budget deficit. Only 11% say the program will achieve its stated goal of deficit reduction.

(See question wording and topline responses).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters say the cost of care is the biggest health care problem that needs to be addressed. Among this group, 89% say the proposed legislation is likely to exceed cost expectations, 79% believe the plan will increase deficits, and 90% think it is likely to lead to higher taxes for the middle class.

You've just got to love Congress. It believes health care costs too much today and too few people have access to care. So in response Congress will raise taxes and then ration care.

Is this a great country or what?!

View all comments (9) | Leave a comment

John Bibb| 1.1.10 @ 11:31AM

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The Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Az., will no longer accept Medicare patients starting today--1 Jan. 2010. Harbinger of future events in our medical lives.
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Rocketman
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James| 1.1.10 @ 12:02PM

this is my big fear.

we| 1.1.10 @ 2:11PM

And Pelosi and Reid don't think this will destroy the Democratic Party. Bring it on! Oh to have such confidence. Can't wait to hear their champagne corks blast into the wee hours after the 2010 elections. Pop, pop, fizzle.

Anthony| 1.1.10 @ 2:12PM

We've had "reform" in Maine, Dirigo Health, which was supposed to insure 60,000 previously uninsured people at the end of year 1. Seven years later, it insures about 9,000 people, 3,000 of whom are previously uninsured. At a time when the ME economy has tanked, Dirigo has cost $25 million dollars. Its director makes by far the highest salary in state government. And Obama has just appointed Dirigo's architect, Trish Riley, to his Medicaid commission! Way to go--Maine now has almost 30% of its population on the Medicaid program, Maine Care, which is also a hideous debacle, sucking the budget dollars of a state which is one of only three to have lost population last year.

Oldefarte| 1.3.10 @ 4:18PM

Americans.....FEAR? Knowledgable Americans......KNOW that healthcare cost will rise, that coverages will shrink or disappear, and that it is WELFARECARE!!!!

affiliate| 1.26.10 @ 2:13AM

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affiliate

kala| 3.16.10 @ 12:48PM

I think we're here because we've been allowed to post here, not because the site is any kind of threat.
The portion of the population that either doesn't believe in dangerous agw or doesn't know what to believe is very large.

Shrewsbury Dentists| 12.1.10 @ 2:29PM

Healthcare should be free to everyone

johncarcar| 7.28.11 @ 8:12AM

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