North Carolina Against Paying Higher Taxes for Universal Health Care

No trust in a government run health insurance plan

NC NEWS -- North Carolina voters say that health care costs are their main concern and they are not willing to pay higher taxes or trust a government run insurance plan. Meanwhile, President Obama and Congress are moving at "full speed ahead" on an overhaul of the nation's health care system, however, it appears the administration's demand for higher taxes for to provide universal healthcare coverage is not widely supported by voters in North Carolina.

According to the latest Civitas Institute live caller poll of 600 NC voters:

• 61 percent of voters selected keeping cost affordable as their highest priority in any health care reform.
• 18 percent selected maintaining a high quality system.
• And only 16 percent said universal health care coverage for all.

When specifically queried on whether they would personally be willing to pay higher taxes to provide health insurance for all Americans, only 36 percent of respondents said "yes" while 56 percent said "no," and 9 percent were not sure.

Civitas Institute executive director, Francis De Luca said:

"While political leaders cite all kinds of reasons federal action is needed, at the end of the day North Carolina voters are most interested in keeping health care costs affordable. Politicians would be wise to listen to what the voters are saying."

"When asked in the abstract whether health care reform is desirable, people will always say yes, but when the public learns that 'reform' may include higher taxes and government run health care, voters Become much more skeptical. Voters are unwilling to pay higher taxes for health care 'reform' and are dubious that a government run system will lead to better health outcomes."

The Civitas Poll is the only monthly live-caller poll of critical issues facing North Carolina. The study of 600 registered voters was conducted July 14, through 17, 2009 by Tel Opinion Research of Alexandria, Virginia, and has a confidence interval of 4% present. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered voters in North Carolina, and had to have voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections, or were newly registered voters since 2008.

The sample of registered voters in North Carolina where asked the following questions and responded with the respective answers:

When thinking about Health Care Reform, what should be the highest priority: ensuring universal coverage for all Americans, maintaining a high quality health care system or keeping health care costs affordable?

• Universal Coverage for All 16%
• High Quality System 18%
• Keep Costs Affordable 61%
• Not Sure 4%

Would you personally be willing to pay higher taxes to provide health insurance for all Americans?

• Yes 36%
• No 56%
• Not Sure 9%

Given your knowledge of Medicaid and other government sponsored health care programs, would you entrust your health or your family's health to a government run health insurance plan over a private insurance option?

• Yes 29%
• No 56%
• Not Sure 9%

Additionally, retirees and seniors over 66, those most familiar with the present government run health care system, were most likely to say "no" when asked about trusting their family health to a government run insurance plan. Both groups answered "no" to trusting a government run health insurance plan over a private insurance option by 60 and 61 percent respectively! Furthermore, only the self-employed answered "no" at a higher percentage than did retirees and seniors.

Therefore, it is easy to conclude that President Obama and Congress should be concentrating their efforts on creating a unique and original health care system for the small minority that does not have health coverage, instead of overhauling the nation's entire health care system with the old "tax and spend" scenario, especially, when the majority are against tax increases.