Public Opinion of the Uninsured: Who Are They? Can They Get Care? Should Insurance be Publically Provided

The United States is at the pinnacle of medical expertise and exploration. Many people from around the world come here to receive that outstanding care. Unfortunately, many of our own citizens are unable to enjoy that same privilege. With mounting technological and research costs, Health Maintenance Organizations, State-funded health insurance, and federally funded programs, such as Medicaid, are struggling to meet the expanding numbers of uninsured. The public is the driving force behind the policy debate in this country, and the debate over the uninsured may be lacking some very important information. It was the aim of this study to evaluate the public’s view of the uninsured. Meta-analysis was used to evaluate three questions regarding the public’s opinions of the status of the uninsured in the country to better understand the true perception held.