Asking the Wrong Questions

For the first time since 2000, Gallup has found a majority of Americans now feel it is not the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage. According to a recent poll, 54% now feel it is not the government’s responsibility as opposed to 44% who say it is. 

Gallup also found most of those interviewed still think health care system has some major problems, don’t like the costs, but are generally satisfied with the care received when needed.

Whether or not it is the federal government’s responsibility to make sure American’s have health insurance isn’t the real question. If the question was changed to, “Is it the responsibility of the federal government to make sure American’s have access to affordable health care?” the answer results might be different. Considering the fact that health care costs are now impacting the entire economy, I know I’d say it is.

It’s pretty amazing that after all that has happened we’re still having separate discussions around these topics and haven’t put them together. Health insurance financing of health care and an affordable health care system are related.

The Health Care system is moving in the right direction but is resisting the change any way it can. It’s going slow. Until we bring the general public on-board, making the changes that are going to be required is going to be much more difficult. If we used Gallup’s numbers and assume over half the country may be resist the changes that are coming because they don’t understand them, the challenge may be overwhelming.

That is why educating the public about what is going on and getting them engaged critical. They are going to need to be more engaged than they are today to make the change happen.