Schumer, Brown, Sanders Unveil Study Showing Two-Thirds of Americans Want a Public Health Insurance Plan Option; Say Option Is Needed for Health Care Overhaul

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SCHUMER, BROWN, SANDERS UNVEIL STUDY SHOWING TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS WANT A PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN OPTION; SAY OPTION IS NEEDED FOR HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL

New Consumer Reports Survey Shows Two-Thirds of Americans Support a Public Plan Option in Addition to Private Insurance

As the Senate Finance Committee met in an executive session to discuss health care reform, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined the non-profit group behind Consumer Reports magazine, Consumers Union, to unveil a new survey showing two-thirds of the American people support the establishment of a public health insurance plan option that would compete alongside private insurers.

Providing health care coverage for the 46 million Americans currently uninsured has become the centerpiece of health care reform. The Senators believe that health reform legislation must give all Americans the choice of receiving coverage through either a private health insurance plan or a public, government-sponsored plan. A public plan option is necessary for competition and choice. In light of the new Consumers Union poll, the Senators announced their push to include a public plan option in health care legislation being considered by the Senate this year.

"The purpose of the public plan as I see it is to improve the options for the American people," Schumer said. "Pure and simple - as we undertake the momentous task of designing and developing new health insurance for Americans who have no access or are paying too much - we need to be sure that there's a star player. That star player is the public plan."

"Comprehensive health reform is not only a moral issue—it's critical to getting our economy back on track," Senator Brown said. "We can't achieve economic prosperity if families are only one hospital visit away from financial disaster or American businesses struggle to compete globally due to health care costs. We must preserve access to employer-sponsored health care while increasing competition in the private market. Unfortunately, HMOs and private insurers always seem to be one step ahead of the sheriff. Including a public health plan option will keep costs down while ensuring coverage is comprehensive and accessible."

Senator Sanders said, "The United States needs to join the industrialized world with a real national health care program that guarantees comprehensive health care to every man, woman, and child, and we will save money as we do that."

The Consumers Union poll released today shows that the majority of Americans support including a public plan option as part of health care reform. When asked, 66 percent of respondents said that they would support the inclusion of a public plan option in reform. Another 16 percent expressed no objection to a public plan option. Only 16 percent opposed the idea. Moreover, the survey found that support for a public plan choice was strong across all segments of the population - even for those households with incomes of $75,000 or more, and those with employer-sponsored health insurance.
The poll also shows that a vast majority of Americans want reform, with 71 percent supporting or strongly supporting health care reform efforts to ensure all Americans have access to affordable and quality health care. The report shows the desire for reform stems from a growing unease with the current health care system. Nearly two-thirds of Americans surveyed are uneasy about having access to and affording health care in the future, a situation compounded by the current economic climate. The majority of Americans are worried that with the current employer-based system of health care, job loss can mean losing health care for the entire family.

In light of the new poll, the Senators today said that a public option must set the standard for quality, efficiency, and affordability in health care reform. The Senators also unveiled a letter signed by many of their colleagues, calling on Senator Baucus, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and Senator Kennedy, Chairman of the HELP Committee, to include the public plan option when crafting health care reform legislation.

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