Polls & Research

Americans Ponder High Health Care Costs

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in the United States think insurance companies are responsible for the high costs in the health care sector, according to a poll by Harris Interactive and the Commonwealth Fund. 41 per cent of respondents agree with this view, while 16 per cent blame pharmaceutical companies.

The government is third on the list with 16 per cent, while fewer respondents blame hospitals and physicians for expensive health care services.

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 47 million Americans are uninsured.

On Nov. 4, Democratic nominee Barack Obama won the U.S. presidential election, defeating Republican candidate John McCain. Obama will take over from George W. Bush—who served two four-year terms—on Jan. 20, 2009.

One of Obama’s main campaign pledges was to increase access to health care for all Americans. Earlier this month, published reports hinted at the possibility of former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle becoming a nominee to preside the Department of Health and Human Services.

Daschle—who wrote the book "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis"—commented on the chance of joining the new administration, saying he "would consider that possibility if the right role came along."

Polling Data

When you think of the rising costs of health care, who do you think is most responsible?

Insurance companies	41%
Pharmaceutical companies	16%
The government	16%
Hospitals	6%
Other	6%
Physicians	4%
Not at all sure	11%

Source: Harris Interactive / The Commonwealth Fund
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,119 American adults, conducted between Oct. 16 and Oct. 20, 2008. No margin of error is provided.