Poll: 83% of Americans Support Medicare Reform

A recent poll by Harris Interactive/HealthDay found that 83 percent of Americans polled believed change is needed to keep Medicare "affordable and sustainable," but the majority of respondents opposed higher taxes or out-of-pocket costs as way to reduce the government's burden, according to a HealthDay News report.

Other key findings of the survey include:

  • Fifty-one percent felt a "great deal of change" is needed to fix Medicare.
  • Fifty-three percent oppose higher taxes to fund Medicare.
  • Sixty percent oppose higher out-of-pocket beneficiary contributions.
When asked about ways to reform the program, 72 percent approved of cutting the price Medicare pays for prescription drugs;  47 percent favored cutting the price it pays to hospitals; and 41 percent favored cutting the price it pays to physicians.

Earlier this week, the Medicare Board of Trustees 2012 report estimated the hospital trust fund, or Medicare Part A, has an insolvency date of 2024.

More Articles on Medicare:

CMS Releases FY 2013 IPPS Proposed Rule: 12 Points to Know
5 Points to Know on the 2012 Medicare Trustees Report
PPACA to Save Medicare $200B Through 2016

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