"The right to affordable health care coverage is overwhelmingly supported by Maryland voters," said Celinda Lake, president of the polling firm.
Maryland voters also rank rising health care costs (29%) as their top economic concern, above having a secure retirement (20%), losing their job (16%), or higher taxes (14%). Nearly half (45%) of voters rate rising health care costs as their biggest health care concern.
In response to this level of concern in the state, Americans for Health Care has launched Maryland for Health Care, a grassroots campaign of small business owners, working families, health care professionals, seniors, and community leaders. Its goal is to ensure that every Marylander has quality, affordable health care.
"As we have seen in other states across the country, when citizens come together around the issue of fixing the health care system they are a powerful force for change," said Ellen Golombek, national campaign director of Americans for Health Care. "The goal of Maryland for Health Care is to unite community members across the state to work with their legislators in Annapolis to ensure that all Maryland residents have quality health care."
During a press conference announcing the new organization, Carol Bragg, a cardiac nurse in Prince Georges County, remarked, "If we don't do something to get everyone covered now, the situation is only going to get worse."
The poll findings were from a statewide survey of 600 likely general election voters, conducted by Lake Snell Perry & Associates between January 5-7, 2004. The margin of error for this survey is +/-4.0%.