Survey finds Americans split on issue

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Americans are divided over how they want health care fixed and whom they trust most to do it, refusing to forge a consensus for or against President Barack Obama as he and Congress march toward a historic overhaul.

A new McClatchy-Ipsos poll released Wednesday found people torn over several key questions that are likely to dominate debate in Congress in coming weeks, including:

UHow a federal government insurance plan would affect their own health care and their pocketbooks.

UWhether the government should stress cost controls or expanded insurance coverage.

UWhom they trust most to expand coverage.

Obama still has the most prominent pulpit in the debate, leading the list of voices Americans trust most on health care. However, he doesn’t dominate the debate — only one in four named him the most trusted voice on health care — perhaps because rising unemployment appears to be taking a toll on his overall standing.

The lack of a popular consensus underscores the risks and stakes as Congress rushes toward proposals to provide coverage to the uninsured and rein in soaring costs for those who do have coverage.

On one key question, the poll found Americans split over the benefits of being able to buy insurance from a new government program. Though 40 percent said they thought it would lower the quality of their care, 21 percent said it would improve the quality, and 36 percent said it wouldn’t make any difference. The rest had no opinion.

The survey also found 38 percent saying the availability of government insurance would bring down their family’s costs, 27 percent said it would raise their costs, and 31 percent said it wouldn’t make any difference.