Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for June 23, 2021
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
June 23, 2021: Forty-five percent (45%) of voters nationwide believe the United States has a free-market healthcare system. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 34% disagree and believe we have a government-run system.[1]
Most voters with a college degree believe we have a free-market system. However, those without a degree are more evenly divided. Most voters over 55 believe we have a free-market system, while younger voters are evenly divided.[1]
While a plurality believes we have a free-market system, a Cato Institute analysis of data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services concluded that government sources control 83% of all healthcare spending.[2] Specifically, the study found that:
- 46% of all healthcare spending comes directly from government sources. That’s far more than any other source of funding for the industry.[2]
- Another 37% of funding comes from spending supported through tax preferences. Broadly speaking, this includes all employer-provided health insurance. The only way to get the tax break is to provide the insurance mandated by the government. Cato calls this “spending subject to government coercion.”[2]
Data released earlier shows 48% rate the U.S. healthcare system as good or excellent.[3]
However, results from other questions suggest a fair amount of confusion on this topic. On the negative side, 67% of all voters say the system is badly broken. More positively, 71% are happy with the medical care they receive.[3]
As for the politics of healthcare, the fact that most are happy with the care they receive is a major obstacle to reform. For these voters, a solid majority, there is little upside to reform and plenty of downside. No matter how bad some people feel the healthcare system is today, there is a concern that Congress could make it worse.[2]
A previous Number of the Day showed that 22% believe that having affordable health insurance guarantees access to quality healthcare.[1]
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.
- June 22, 2021 -22 percent of voters believe having health insurance guarantees access to quality health care
- June 21, 2021 -67 percent of voters believe U.S. healthcare system is badly broken
- June 18, 2021 -65 percent of voters want zoning laws set by individual towns and cities
- June 17, 2021 -9 percent of voters believe journalists were right to dismiss lab leak theory, 27% say they dismissed it because Trump suggested it
- June 16, 2021 -65 percent of voters want America to be a melting pot
- To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.
Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day is published by Ballotpedia weekdays at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Click here to check out the latest update.
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Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
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See also
- Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day
- Healthcare Policy
- Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for June 21, 2021
- Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for June 22, 2021
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ScottRasmussen.com, "45% think US has free-market healthcare system, 34% say government run," June 22, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Deseret News, "Opinion: Washington has no hope of fixing our health care system," June 21, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ScottRasmussen.com, "48% say health care system is good or excellent," June 21, 2021
