Washington (CNN) – Only three in ten Americans say they want Congress to pass legislation similar to the health care reform bills that have already been approved by the House and Senate, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey also indicates that nearly half the public, 48 percent, would like federal lawmakers to start work on an entirely new bill, and 21 percent feel Congress should stop working an any bills that would change the country's health care system.
The survey's Tuesday release comes one week after Republican Scott Brown's victory in a special senate election in Massachusetts. The GOP win means once Brown is sworn in as a senator, the Democrats will lose their 60-seat supermajority in the chamber, making their chances of passing the current health care reform legislation extremely difficult.
"Opposition to health care legislation is highest among senior citizens," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Twenty-nine percent of people over 65 want Congress to stop working on health care completely, compared to 20 percent of people under the age of 50."
According to the poll, Americans are equally divided on whether Congress will pass a health care bill by the end of the year.
Fifty-eight percent of people questioned in the survey oppose the bills previously passed by the House and Senate, with 38 percent supporting that legislation.
Would a stripped-down version win more support from the public?
"Yes, but a majority would still oppose a bill that would increase regulations on health insurance companies but not increase the number of Americans with health coverage," says Holland. "Support for a bill that only deals with insurance companies rises to 47 percent, but 51 percent would oppose a bill like that."
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted January 22-24, with 1,009 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Pass this bill, and fix it with reconciliation. Remember half the population has an IQ of 100 or less, so they will change their mind every day or so.
Whats wrong with gop market reform? Its free to tax payers. Wouldn't hurt to try.
The problem is that every time that health care is re-evaluated, we get farther from what America needs: real high-quality affordable health care that puts the relief of human suffering before corporate profits.
It is shameful that the assumption remains that for someone to receive medical attention, someone else needs to be getting rich.
That's because this bill is a total mess written buy left wing Unions. St
art over and simplify. It doesn't have to be over 2000 pages long!
Regardless of what the Republidiots think, healthcare in this country is horrible. There are people who cannot afford it and those that are denied care (read rationing) and those that get jacked around by the insurance companies to get coverage (again read rationing).
The Repubthugs would rather their buddies who run healthcare make millions in bonuses than worry about the unfortunate Americans.
Let's have the Republicans think about the unfortunate millions of Americans that need help. Let's get the Party of NO, the Grand Obstructionist Party to realize that they are alienating voters by continuing to deny good and affordable healthcare to these millions.
Let's all think bipartisanship.
So what's the problem? Lots of the people who most oppose it will be dead before the next election. And, aren't they the ones who already have free government health care? They must like it if they are so worried about change.
Shame on Americans. We let George W. and his Republican thugs run this copuntry into the ground for eight years, but, we won't give President Obama a chance to straighten out their mess. Shame on Americans and what they truly stand for...ignorance.
Too late now!
No health care bill! Let the sick die, too many people in the country anyway!
Then there will be more of everything for the rest of us!
yes for God's sake start over just remove preexisting conditions and don't tax us anymore or your out of a job.
Heathcare reform will never happen....Republicans will see to that.
Look for insurance rates to sky-rocket and most everything will become "not covered" if you do happen to have the luxury of having health coverage. Too bad for us.....again!
"Would a stripped-down version win more support from the public?
"Yes, but a majority would still oppose a bill that would increase regulations on health insurance companies but not increase the number of Americans with health coverage," says Holland. "Support for a bill that only deals with insurance companies rises to 47 percent, but 51 percent would oppose a bill like that.""
Strange! If i believe this poll, Americans like to be reaped off by the insurance company, right? And we complain of high health care cost?
Did the insurance company participate in the polling or is the Supreme Court's ruling already in effect?
MA voters proved that even a centerfold can get elected if the majority of voters stay home.
THERE MUST BE A PUBLIC OPTION TO REIGN IN THE CRIMINALS IN THE HOSPITAL AND INSURANCE INDUSTRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES I'M SHOUTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real health reform should start with 2 things: Protect citizens with preexisting conditions, and eliminate anti-trust exemptions.
There is no faith in the "bill" or this Congress, even Obama is losing our support.
I say dump all of the above and move on.
"Start over and simplify."
More conservative double-speak. "It's 1/6th of the economy!!! Be very scared!!!!" But apparently, we can reform it with crayola on a napkin.
That's right, just give it to Beohner with a stack of napkins. I'm pretty sure I saw that box of 96 crayons with the sharpener in back on his desk...you know which one I'm talking about...we all wanted one in grade school. Well, little Johnny is still braggin' about his. I think maybe he eats the orange ones tho, which would explain his complexion.
After all the hard work performed by both Democrats and some Republicans, it would be a waste to start over – let's just get the health care reform bill passed. No one denies jobs and the economy are important – but so is health care. By putting in the money up front with cost benefits to follow, people and ultimately the economy benefit.
We hear loud voices against health care reform – but they are not the only voices. Sick Americans, Americans with chronic illnesses and all their families who are financially devistated because of the high cost of health care or no health care – they also have a voice and need to be heard – support health care reform!!
Pass the bill even if the people don't want it! We know what's good for the masses!
...and, oh yeah. Let Freedom Ring!
I am a European (Dutch), and I watch this sad spectacle and can only shake my head in disbelief. Americans pay twice what every other country pays for health care, and yet their life expectancy is three years less! When you elected Obama, I thought you wanted your broken system fixed? I have read what's in both bills and each proposal makes sense to me. If one quarter of your population is without insurance, the other three quaters pay for it. What don't you understand?,
I've worked every day of my life since I turned 16. I have a pre-existing condition, but I still get up every day and work very hard. I SHOULD not live in fear of being dropped by my insurance company when I need the services I've paid for my entire life...because my some idiots in DC want to score political points by lying to senior citizens and people too stupid to do their own research! Grow a pair and get health reform done!
Why start over? The Republicans will just stonewall it again. They will not allow any legislation to pass without standing in the way.
Figures "right", the do nothing congress under bush wants it to be the same way now so the voters can't tell how they stopped progress in this country.
Well we gave the chance to the Democrates and they were so busy fighting among each other they allowed these creeps to – well creep up and stand in the way.
Sad
After all the hard work performed by both Democrats and some Republicans, it would be a waste to start over. Let's get a reform bill passed. No one denies jobs and the economy are important – but so is health care. By putting in the money up front with cost benefits to follow, people and ultimately the economy benefit.
We hear loud voices against health care reform – but they are not the only voices. Sick Americans, Americans with chronic illnesses and their families financially ruined because of the high cost of health care – or no heath care coverage – we also have a voice. We need and support health care reform!!
November will show that the tax payer does not want to fund another entitlement for people who have made a living off of public assistance. There is nothing in the constitution that gives you these entitlements but there is something stating we all should be providing for the common good. Stop putting your hands in somebody elses pocket, get a job.
Start over is nothing but Republican stall tactics, so they can keep the status quo.
"Whats wrong with gop market reform?"
3+ decades of proof that their economic ideologies don't work (and common sense telling us that screaming them at the top of your lungs won't convince reality otherwise).
Starting anew would be a waste of taxpayer resources.
The Democrats need to muster up enough guts to get the House to pass the Senate bill. Nancy Pelosi needs to make this happen like she saw to it that a statute of Ronald Reagan was dedicated in the Capitol rotunda.
George W. Bush continued to pursue the two wars and taxcuts for the rich despite mounting opposition to both and he got re-elected.
50% what to start anew with healthcare, I say what Dick Cheney said, "So what?"
Stop the maddness of employers being required to provide health
coverage. Get rid of all health insurance policies. Go to a Universal
health care system funded by the people. It can cover health, dental,
and vision. I cannot understand why anyone, republican of Democrat
has not figured a way to do this.
Republicans and Big Corporation Dictatorship. Goodby America
It's funny, that they have all of these "alleged" polls that seem to happen quite frequently, But yet, everyone I know including myself, all of my family members, friends, acquaintances, and co-workers never seem to be polled about anything at anytime! Which leads me to believe that these farce polls are only being used as a means of convincing the uneducated, naive,lowest common denominator, trailer trash billy-bob demographic that this is truly how it really is out there in the world because they're to limited mentally to actually think for themselves and to lazy to actually look into anything on there own!!!!
And another thing.........Brown didn't "win" the election as much as Coekley "lost" it! She basically handed it to him for God's sake.....So get real.......It is what it is...........End of story!!!
This is a meaningless poll because 90% of participants probably don't know anything about what the bills provide... they only know what the Limbaughs, Becks and other enemies of the people (i.e. corporate interests) want them to know.. i.e. 'death panels', 'funded abortions', yada, yada, lies.
Can you say a "Public Option"!!! The far Right Dummy's just dont understand that the only thing that can stand up to the Big Copr is BIG Govt...
Not the big 3 Obama, Reid and Pelosi. They would backdoor this in a heartbeat. They make Richard Nixon look like the Pope.
The Republicans poisoned the well with their lies. The polls about the entire bill are useless. PASS HEALTH CARE REFORM TODAY!!!
Then force the Republicans to campaign AGAINST banning the exclusion of people with pre-existing conditions. Force them to campaign AGAINST banning rescission.
Force Republicans to stand WITH the insurance industry and insurance lobby.
Force the Republicans to show America how they stand AGAINST helping the MIDDLE CLASS.
"If you want something ruined..." is right regarding the IQ<100 issue. We as a nation have developed a minisule attention span and an even worse memory. That is also why Marko is correct as well. To Lilarose in Oregon, I do hope that your comments were made in jest. For if they were not then you, my dear, redefine the word obtuse. Moreover Lilarose, the next time you or a family member or someone you care about falls ill be sure to take your own advice...
Obama is only making the mess that Bush left worse and worse. Start over? yes and do not ration healthcare for seniors like the current bill would. No cuts to medicare.
Start Over and this time no giveaways to the Healthcare Lobby or any specific lawfakers! Everyone Alive needs health care. WE NEED Universal Single-Payer Health Care for all!
Tell the Food and Drug Industries to Stop Selling Diseases. Diebetes Comes to Mind here. NO Mandatory Clauses for the further robbery of the Crap Wages we get paid by all the Corporate Buddies! .
Health Care Should Not Be For Profit. It is a RIGHT of life. Get it figured out this time.
Tell the People Daily that Republicans and Blue Dogs Find NO Fault with WARFARE Spending – the kind that kills other people's Families! Negotiate Drug Prices. No More Profiteering With Our Lives! Iif you don't get this done, you will be politicaal history soon enough.
Apparently this poll didn't include me or ANYONE I know, because we all want healthcare reform and we all need it. I just don't get it. You Republicans are OK with coverage denial due to preexisting conditions? My son had chronic ear infections when he was 1 year old and STILL we get denied coverage for his ears 4 YEARS LATER. You Republicans think it's OK to go without coverage because you lost your job or have started your small business? It's too expensive to buy it for your entire family privately if you have little or no income and are trying to get ahead. You're okay with the "death panels" that the insurance bureaucrats have had for years????
Has insanity run through this country? I think so.
Only people with an IQ under 50 would equate the current bills with actually solving America's health care problems.
Yes. Start anew. Tort reform. Portability. Buy policies across state lines. AND THEN STOP!
No kidding? We didn't need a poll to tell us they should throw out that piece of crap they wasted their time on and get to work on real reform that reduces health insurance and makes it affordable and available for anyone who wants it to purchase it? Yes purchase it, everyone needs to be responsible for themselves, enough with these entitlement programs.
This Congress and this administration can't be trusted to reform health care so doing nothing is so much better than the piece of garbage bill that they have in Harry's and Queen Nan's locked desks!
At this point I've given up. I've watched my family and friends gradually had their health care slip away the past few years no matter how hard they try to make ends meet. As long as Republicans have ANY say in this, it will be more of the same.
The GOP has said the system needs reform as well....their idea of reform, is no medicare, no social security period..everything is handed to the insurance companies...they have said this time and time again in interviews yet no one listens....the American people are about to reap what they've sown.
They absolutely have to start over with a new premise: Reduce costs.
America does not have $1 trillion laying around looking for a place to be used. In fact, we already owe many times that and we are paying huge interest on what we already borrowed.
Americans do not have thousands of extra dollars every year to spend on increasing insurance costs. Go after the real cost: Caregivers. Insurance companies are not robbing us blind. The hospital companies are. The physicians are, especially the specialists. The drug companies are. Medical device manufacturers are. Go after those costs. They are what make it so expensive.
Create something that allows all Americans to be covered by making it affordable, not by cutting deals and building unmanagable debt that will burden future generations.
Reduce costs.
I wouldn't have too much problem with more revision, but the problem i see is that the right does not want any health care reform at all and will do anything to make that happen. They don't care about anything except money in their pockets and have no concerns whatsoever about anyone except rich people.
I agree with ( If you want something ruined.)
The republicans will do ANYTHING to make our President look bad.
They sucked sooooooo bad is why we elected a democrat again.
Now they are trying to blame they're disaster on him!
This is very sad for this country, shame on you!
THE BILL WILL PASS
Folks are still blaming Republicans for the failure of healthcare....It's the Dems alone who had the votes to pass Obee's agenda, but they chose not to...
IT'S THE DEMOCRATS WHO STOPPED HEALTH CARE!
What a suprise! I guess the millions of people who came out in protest of this government rip off health care bill weren't astroturf after all. How could we possibly have universal healthcare when the universal health care programs we currently have are $38 trillion in debt! and they only cover senior citizens and the poor! Did Obama forget that fact? Does he even care? It's time for people to get their priorities straight, buy health insurance for you and your family, don't buy an SUV with shiny rims or a house that you cannot afford. Family first, material items second.
Republicans should be horse whipped and ran out of Washington and those who agree with them should be ashame. These elected officials and their families have the best health insurance and we pay for it for their entire life along with their families.
If you don't get all Americans involved in the health care issue you will never get the health care that we need. Bribing and extortion will not give us the health care we need. You can call each other all the name in the world but that wont fix anything. This IQ remark really shows your IQ.
51 votes for the "Public Option",period.
Universal healthcare..!!! republicans are idiots
The reason that this bill fails is simple:
Those Idiotic Democrats got involved thinking they knew best. Which shows the general public that there MUST be an equal participation from both sides. Until that happenes, don't expect any progress.
When did 48% become half?? Boy if that where so I could make a lot of money.
52% is also amojority where I come from.
The over-60 crowd has been influenced by the lies and distotions of the gop...again. What has happened to this country? Fear seems to be the loudest and most pronounced motivator-I"l take HOPE- and if the truth be told, the majority of this country feels the same. Grow some America! And put a gag in the mouths of the bigot baggers and blue dogs who think backwards=better!
Pass this bill, wow, you are a genius.
If you like putting into a fund for FOUR YEARS and you GET NOTHING OUT OF IT dring that timeframe, you are simply a sheep being led by wolves.
By the way, we voted FOR Brown and AGAINST OBAMBICARE, while you sat in your mommies basement.
Sit down TOGETHER, find common ground, write it and pass it, real simple.
That is what REAL americans and Scott Brown wants.
The best part about Scott Brown winning is the way it gets under these far left liberal loonies on here... I so enjoy your whining...
Republicans are once again poised to line their pockets with gold.....hooray, we the people are fooled again!!
Medical malpractice Tort Reform needs to be in any health care bill, that in itself would help to reduce medical costs. obama needs to stop protecting his ambulance chasing lawyer friends.
The Republicans and the Teabaggers have won over the undereducated trailer park trash voters to oppose healthcare so pass it by reconciliation and fix it later.
The right wing party of No would burn the bridge they needed to cross if they thought they were spiting Obama simple as that.
The party NO knows no shame what do they care about the rest of the world when these fat cats have Goverment run Insurance Coverage the best in the world and yet they turn around and belittle Goverment RunInsurance Coverage for the rest of the citizens.
Ths is the way they think dumb and dumber.
Why does everyone continue to blame Bush and the Republicans. Only the Democrats have ever had total control of the government and they could not get the bill through, due to a failure of leadership. Health care will cost 15-17% of everyone's pay at the end of the day. Until they consider a bill that cuts costs and eliminates fraud this country can not afford healthcare. The current bills do not address these core concerns.