
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 11, 1993                   TAG: 9311110153
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

POLL FINDS WIDE SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

A large majority of Americans believe the U.S. health system needs fundamental change or complete rebuilding, according to a new Harris poll.

In early 1992, 57 percent of the public said the health system needed to be overhauled, but 84 percent now feel that way, according to polls conducted for the Commonwealth Fund and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The latest survey indicated that 53 percent of adults had no insurance at some point during the past two years.

The poll, conducted in August, did not ask people their views on specifics of President Clinton's health plan.

Clinton's plan won praise Wednesday from the board of directors of the American Association of Retired Persons, which called the Health Security Act "the strongest and most realistic blueprint to date for achieving our goals."

The AARP has not endorsed a specific health plan, but it applauded the president's provisions for prescription drug coverage, home and community-based long-term care and subsidies for early retirees. - Associated Press

by CNB