Polls & Research

Americans Want More Health Care Investment

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States believe their federal administration is not doing enough to help them with the cost of medical services, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates for the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 70 per cent of respondents think the government spends too little on health care.

Health care in the U.S. is based on a system of benefits provided by employers, as well as the Medicare and Medicaid programs which allocate health insurance for the elderly, disabled and poor. Around 45 million Americans are uninsured. 65 per cent of respondents believe the average American spends too much on health care.

U.S. president George W. Bush signed new health-related legislation in December 2003. The $400 billion U.S. plan is considered the largest expansion of Medicare, and creates a prescription drug benefit for the first time. In average, a person 65 and older spends $1,644 U.S. a year—or $137 U.S. a month—in medicines. This particular rule came into effect this year.

On Mar. 21, Bush discussed the state of the country's medical services, saying, "I'm going to look forward to working with Congress to make sure health care is affordable and available. (...) We got some interesting ideas on health care that we need to continue to press, to make sure consumers are actually a part of the decision-making process when it comes to health care decisions. We've got an aggressive agenda that, by working together, will get passed."

Polling Data

Do you think the government spends too much, too little or the right amount on health care?

Do you think the average American spends too much, too little or the right amount on health care?