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Wednesday, May 04, 2011

51% See Free Market As Better Way To Reduce Health Care Costs

While support for repeal of the national health care law has fallen to its lowest level yet, most voters still believe free market competition rather than more government is the better way to reduce the cost of health care in America.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely Voters say free market competition between insurance companies will do more to bring down health care costs than more government regulation.  Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree and feel increased government regulation is the better way to go.  Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Still, the number of voters who favor free market competition is down 15 points from late October 2009, when two-out-of-three voters (66%) felt that way.

Republican Congressman Paul Ryan's long-term budget-cutting plan features a radical reworking of Medicare that includes the creation of health insurance exchanges that he contends would drive down prices due to free market competition. But opposition to Ryan's budget plan is growing.

Rasmussen

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yea right...there is nothing "free" about a free market health care system. These bozo health insurers have and will continue to jack rates arbitrarily 10 - 60% just as they have done in the past. Teh average Joe has no chance in htat marketplace.

Anonymous said...

These numbers would mean more if they included who actually has health care among the responders. How many of the folks in favor of free market are able to obtain and afford free market care? How many opposed to free market have health care already? What are we really talking about?

Anonymous said...

if the market were truly free if would be better.
too much gov regulation in health care, even before obamacare

allow policies to be sold over state lines, ect ect ect ect

Anonymous said...

1018-Since Mass implemented essentially Romney/Obamacare, health care inflation rose higher in that state than in any other in the nation. There is no "free market" in healthcare, you can't buy across state lines. Some states(like NY for example) only have one or two insurance providers approved to operate in the state. Assbackwardness like that is what leads to companies being able to raise rates without competition. The free market drives down prices, because businesses will lower prices to attract more customers. Also, allow individuals to buy policies at a discount, like corporations do with their employees. A free market in healthcare would beat whatever bs we have now, in price, quality of care, etc etc etc.