The Public and the Emerging Debate over National Health Insurance

Abstract

While opinion polls indicate that most Americans favor some form of\nnational health care program, survey results also show that the public holds a\nnumber of conflicting views about what form such a program should take. \nBlendon and Donelan highlight the conflicts as well as the points of\nagreement, and identify aspects of American culture that policy makers should\ntake into account in order to design a health care program that will attract\nwide support. They suggest five principles to be incorporated into proposals\nfor a national health plan in order to build a consensus around a single\nprogram that would provide universal coverage while relying on taxes other\nthan the progressive income tax for its chief financing. (KIE abstract)