Almost 80 percent Americans think health reform needed to boost economy

Some people say that health reform could topple the still-recovering U.S. economy by imposing costs that the system can't bear. Apparently, however, those critics haven't been talking to average Americans, who seem to have quite a different view.

According to the latest data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Care Consumer Confidence Index, 62.2 percent of Americans believe that health reform will strengthen the economy, and 76 percent believe health reform will improve their household bottom line.

This comes as Americans worry more than ever about personal healthcare expenses. Fifty-three percent of respondents to the survey say they're afraid they won't be able to pay for future healthcare needs if seriously ill, and 48.2 percent say they're not sure they'll be able to pay for routine healthcare services.

To learn more about this research:
- read this UPI piece
- read RWJF's summary of September results

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