Poll: Americans Support Health Care Plans that Empower Patients over Government

Report Health Care Reform

Poll: Americans Support Health Care Plans that Empower Patients over Government

April 18, 2019 1 min read Download Report
Elizabeth Fender
Director, Marketing
Elizabeth Fender serves as Director of Marketing at The Heritage Foundation.

Summary

Some left-leaning members of Congress have proposed legislation that would lead to the nationalization or complete government control of our health care system. However, an overwhelming majority of U.S. voters want control and decision-making to move in the opposite direction—away from government bureaucrats and toward states, small businesses, and families. Nine in 10 say that health care policy should empower people—not government bureaucrats or insurance companies—to make the best decisions for their families (94%). More than four in five Americans say health care plans should remove health care decision-making from Washington, D.C. bureaucrats and insurance company executives and give it to the states, small businesses, nonprofits, and families (84%). A similar proportion would support a plan that encourages health care innovations and options (96%) and allow more people access to personalized private coverage over government-run health programs like Medicaid (85%). Americans overwhelming agree, that our health care system should be the best in the world and offer more personal choice, more access to doctors, lower costs, higher-quality care, protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and open avenues for innovation (97%).

Key Takeaways

97% agree that a healthy America is a strong America. Our health care system should be the best in the world. It should offer lower costs and higher-quality care.

94% agree that health care policy should empower people—not government bureaucrats or insurance companies—to make the best decisions for their families.

84% agree that we should remove health care decision-making from bureaucrats and insurance companies and give it to states, small businesses, and families.

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Authors

Elizabeth Fender
Elizabeth Fender

Director, Marketing