It's the 11th year for the Arkansas Poll, and this year shows that people in the state have mixed opinions, when it comes to changing the nation's healthcare system.
The poll shows a majority of insured Arkansans polled are not happy with their current healthcare. Fayetteville resident Donna Finger is one of those people. "I'm on Medicare and it doesn't work all that well."
But poll director Janine Parry says the poll shows many believe changing healthcare will make things worse. "You would think concern would suggest change, but at least as they understand the change that is being discussed so far, they are not sure that that's the way to go."
Fayetteville resident Vivian Ford is very sick. She's battling COPD, as well as recovering from "the H1N1 flu, pneumonia, and asthma." Ford fears creating universal healthcare will mean high medical bills she won't be able to afford. "I didn't get no bill except $48.00, and the whole bill was $36,000."
Parry agrees many fear higher bills. "Frankly, most of us are probably afraid of losing what we have." Fayetteville resident Marilyn Shirmer says she hopes America does not adopt universal healthcare. "England has it and they've gone broke, Canada has it and it's going broke. So I'm not interested in that."
But others like Rogers resident Bob Dienglewicz say Canada's healthcare is ideal. "In Canada, that applies to everybody across the board, so the rich people have to stand in line just like the poor people. It works in Canada." But, many like Dienglewicz say they don't want services cut to pay for it. "I'm not for reducing Medicare in order to finance a public option."
Overall, Parry says it's a complicated issue, and people are wary. Finger says, "I feel like I'm in the dark! Until there's really an understanding, I'm not interested." And Ford agrees. "I just don't trust in nobody." And Parry adds, "policy makers really, really have their work cut out for them."
In this year's poll, most people who have insurance don't want to see the public option go through. But for people who don't have insurance, that's exactly what they want to see - a public option for everybody in America. To learn more about the 2009 Arkansas Poll results, log on to http://www.uark.edu/depts/plscinfo/partners/arkpoll.php
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