Tom Murphy
Newswire21.org
As proposals to reform health insurance swirled through the halls of Congress this summer Americans - particularly older consumers - grew far more optimistic about their ability to pay for the care they need.
Overall, consumer confidence on health expenses rose 12 percent from March through July, according to monthly surveys of 3,000 households conducted by Thomson Reuters.
The poll, the largest private poll on health care, also found an 18 percent increase in people who thought they'd be able to pay their health bills.
The timing of the surveys came before Congress took its summer recess in August. Since then, raucous conservatives who are opposed to health reform have dominated town hall meetings held by senators and congressional representatives across the country, often distorting the reform proposals with claims that they would authorize "death panels" to determine who should live or die.
A Republican party fundraising letter went so far as to suggest the Democratic-led proposals could deprive Republicans of proper care. Republican spokeswoman Katie Wright admitted the letter was "inartfully worded" but said "we're just trying to get the facts out on health care." Democratic officials dismissed the letter as "shameless fear-mongering."
The new poll showed confidence had risen fastest with older Americans, but varied widely among different economic and educational levels.
"These findings are consistent with data we've been seeing for everything from hospital discharge trends to opinions about healthcare reform," said Gear Picken, chief research officer for Thomson Reuters.
"There is growing optimism among many health care consumers, but [there] is also a clear disparity in outlook between those with higher income levels who have insurance coverage and those who are uninsured," he said.
Those without insurance showed confidence levels that were 80 percent below other Americans as of July, according to the data. Consumers with incomes under $25,000 were 20 percent less confident than the average, while those in the highest income groups were 40 percent more confident.
Americans who didn't graduate from high school were 10 percent less confident than the average, but those with college degrees were 25 percent more confident.
Renewed Debate
As Congress resumes its debate after Labor Day, Democrats say they will continue
to try to work out a compromise with moderate Republicans in an effort to line
up the 60 votes needed to pass the measure in the Senate. With the death of Sen.
Edward Kennedy - the most vocal proponent of health reform in the Senate -
Democrats are one vote short of that margin, suggesting they may need the vote
of Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, a liberal Republican who often sides with
Democrats on key policy issues.
If they cannot line up 60 votes, Democrats said they will push through a more limited reform measure with a simple majority of 51 votes.
A special election is scheduled to take place in Massachusetts in January to replace Kennedy. If a Democrat wins, which is likely, the more extensive measure could be brought back for renewed consideration during 2010.
