NU Online News Service, April 13, 2004, 6:16 p.m. EDT – Many residents of swing states believe the government and private insurers both have roles to play in reforming the U.S. health finance system.[@@]
Executives at America's Health Insurance Plans, Washington, are drawing that conclusion from survey results they commissioned from Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies L.L.C., Alexandria, Va.
Most political strategy experts believe that many states are very likely to back President Bush or very likely to back his Democratic challenger.
McInturff's researchers interviewed 800 registered voters in 17 "swing states" in early April. Experts believe that the swing-state voters will be up for grabs in November.
The researchers found that 43% of the survey participants believe that the U.S. health care system "should be reformed" and that 41% believe that the system "should be radically changed." Only 13% said the system should be kept the same.
More than 60% of the participants said the private sector is better suited to delivering care when it is needed, assessing new technology, distributing resources efficiently and using screenings to prevent illnesses before they occur, McInturff said today at a press conference held to release the survey results.
But more than 54% of the participants said government is better at keeping health care affordable, and 59% said government is better suited to ensuring that more Americans have access to quality care.
