The American Public on Health Care-The Missing Perspective - (Page 45)

Figure BB. Coverage Expansion Priorities for Political Candidates 100 Providing health insurance for all children Providing health insurance for all uninsured Americans Providing access to health care for non-U.S. citizens 83% 80 83% 68% 75% 85% 72% 84% 60 40 42% 27% 26% N/A 20 National San Francisco Detroit Miami Children First So what can be done to improve the situation? Americans believe the top priority is children. A mother of a four-year-old in Miami explains how the coverage she and her husband chose for their small business proved inadequate when her child needed extensive post-hospitalization care: A medical researcher at the University of Miami says, To address this concern, a majority (68%) says that expanding health insurance to all uninsured Americans should be a priority for this year’s presidential candidates. The exception to the public’s coverage expansion priorities is ensuring that non-citizens have access to health care. At a time when immigration is a hot button issue in American politics, just over one-quarter (27%) cite this as a major priority. “…I think putting a cap on a four year old kid and not allowing the kid to have any more treatment in the future is not right.” More than eight in ten (83%) surveyed say that ensuring health coverage for all children should be a major priority for political candidates (see Figure BB). “…as soon as we got out of the hospital he capped out within a month… he is capped out for life at four years old.” 45

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