Republicans and Democrats opinions diverge on U.S. healthcare
A survey conducted by Harvard University and Harris Interactive found that healthcare system satisfaction correlates closely with respondents’ political party affiliations.
 
Self-identified Republicans are most likely to call the system the best in the world (68 percent), compared with 32 percent of Democrats and 40 percent of independents, according to a report published by Reuters.
 
The survey, conducted this month, includes a representative sample of 1,026 respondents and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
 
In addition, the survey reported that 26 percent of its respondents believed the U.S. is better than other countries in providing affordable universal healthcare access, and 21 percent said the country was better at controlling healthcare costs.
 
In stark contrast to the Harvard and Harris survey, the non-profit Commonwealth Fund reported late last year in its seven-nation healthcare satisfaction survey that that U.S. patients are more likely to report experiencing medical errors, to go without care because of costs, and to say that the healthcare system needs to be rebuilt completely.
 
The survey of 12,000 adults in Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.K, and the U.S. found that one third of U.S. adults called for rebuilding the system, the highest rate in any country surveyed. The U.S. also ranked last in saying only minor changes were required in the health system.
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