Whether you like it or not, Wisconsin residents, you're likely to have some part in a universal health care program in the near future.
Whether it's in a national system created by President Obama and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate, or in a system implemented by the Democratic-controlled state government, Tuesday's election makes very likely the possibility of a universal health care program. Obama and Democratic candidates nationwide campaigned on a promise to institute such a program, while Senate Democrats in Wisconsin just last year introduced a "Healthy Wisconsin" universal plan.
According to a recent University of Wisconsin Survey Center Badger Poll, a majority of state residents favor a universal health care program as a reform measure. The poll, released Oct. 31, shows that 53 percent of Wisconsin residents feel the health care system in the state has major problems, while 35 percent say it has minor problems. Only 2 percent say there are no problems, while 9 percent say there's a state of crisis. Just 19 percent favored the state doing nothing.
Of the 538 people interviewed, 55 percent favored replacing the current health care system with a new system administered entirely by state government that covers all Wisconsinites. When it comes to how responsible the State of Wisconsin and the federal government should be in making sure all state residents have access to both high quality and affordable health care, 49 percent said the state should be extremely or quite responsible, while 54 percent said the federal government should be extremely or quite responsible.
Interestingly, 78 percent favored expanding the eligibility of existing government programs such as BadgerCare and Medicaid to provide coverage for more people without health insurance.
Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed think the state would do a better job of reforming the system than the federal government. The poll was taken before Obama's election as president Tuesday.
Clearly, Wisconsin residents want the health care system fixed. And, obviously, a universal program is going to be pushed at the national or state level. Access to health insurance remains a critical issue nationwide, while state government has done a commendable job in recent years to make it less of a problem in Wisconsin.
Health care costs remain an even greater problem in Wisconsin and across the United States. While Democrats here and elsewhere have done a good job of showing how a universal plan would address access issues, we still need to be convinced it will work to reduce costs.
Whether it's in a national system created by President Obama and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate, or in a system implemented by the Democratic-controlled state government, Tuesday's election makes very likely the possibility of a universal health care program. Obama and Democratic candidates nationwide campaigned on a promise to institute such a program, while Senate Democrats in Wisconsin just last year introduced a "Healthy Wisconsin" universal plan.
According to a recent University of Wisconsin Survey Center Badger Poll, a majority of state residents favor a universal health care program as a reform measure. The poll, released Oct. 31, shows that 53 percent of Wisconsin residents feel the health care system in the state has major problems, while 35 percent say it has minor problems. Only 2 percent say there are no problems, while 9 percent say there's a state of crisis. Just 19 percent favored the state doing nothing.
Of the 538 people interviewed, 55 percent favored replacing the current health care system with a new system administered entirely by state government that covers all Wisconsinites. When it comes to how responsible the State of Wisconsin and the federal government should be in making sure all state residents have access to both high quality and affordable health care, 49 percent said the state should be extremely or quite responsible, while 54 percent said the federal government should be extremely or quite responsible.
Interestingly, 78 percent favored expanding the eligibility of existing government programs such as BadgerCare and Medicaid to provide coverage for more people without health insurance.
Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed think the state would do a better job of reforming the system than the federal government. The poll was taken before Obama's election as president Tuesday.
Clearly, Wisconsin residents want the health care system fixed. And, obviously, a universal program is going to be pushed at the national or state level. Access to health insurance remains a critical issue nationwide, while state government has done a commendable job in recent years to make it less of a problem in Wisconsin.
Health care costs remain an even greater problem in Wisconsin and across the United States. While Democrats here and elsewhere have done a good job of showing how a universal plan would address access issues, we still need to be convinced it will work to reduce costs.
