A substantial majority of voters, regardless of party, support offering a Health Savings Account (HSAs) to individuals and families with Obamacare policies, a poll by Americans for Prosperity (AFP) finds.
The poll measured support for provisions of the ACCESS Act, H.R. 5608, introduced by Reps. Greg Steube (R-FL) and Kat Cammack (R-FL). The bill would allow Obamacare enrollees to use taxpayer subsidies that currently go to health insurers to fund an HSA they would own and control.
Overall, the poll found 82 percent of registered voters support the HSA proposal, including 78 percent of Republicans, 79 percent of independents, and 88 percent of Democrats. Fifty-four percent said lower-income Americans deserve the same health care options as others, and agreed the bill could help accomplish that with HSAs.
Expands Health Care Options
The poll indicates support for more choices in health care, says Lauren Stewart, senior federal affairs liaison at AFP.
“The core of the lesson here is that Americans want more options in their health care and more access to those options for themselves and their neighbors,” said Stewart. “They recognize the lack of parity in health care and that a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t work. Lawmakers should tune in to their voters’ openness towards expanding health care options and removing barriers to quality, affordable care for all Americans.”
Republicans’ Advantage on Health Care
Polls have shown Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans on health care, but this is an opportunity, not a challenge, for Republicans, says Stewart.
“Republicans should focus on the solutions they are driving and support in health care because, for the first time in a while, they have solutions that challenge the status quo that so many Americans are dissatisfied with,” said Stewart. “Solutions that empower patients by giving them more control over their health care dollars, removing arbitrary barriers to physician-owned hospitals and bringing generic drugs to market.”
H.R. 5608 and other proposals to expand HSAs give Republicans the advantage on health care, says Stewart.
“For many years, Democrats have been unchecked on their failed policies in health care simply because there was not an alternative, but that is no longer the case,” said Stewart. “Republicans can say that their plan is to put American families and patients in the driver’s seat of their health care instead of insurance companies and the government. They should emphasize that all Americans deserve a personal option in health care.”
Talk About Health Care
Republican candidates should talk more about the problems with Obamacare and options for health care reform, says Eric Hovde, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin, who will face Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a two-term Democrat, if he wins the Republican primary on August 13.
“I really want more Republicans to start talking about this issue,” Hovde said on the Clay & Buck radio show, on May 7. “The consequences of what Obamacare, of what they passed are all coming home to roost, with access to care and the cost of care.”
AnneMarie Schieber (amschieber@heartland.org) is the managing editor of Health Care News.
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