Health and Politics

Health and politics are closely tied together in the United States. Our elected officials make major decisions regarding health care in our country. From the creation of Medicare and Medicaid to the administration of Veteran health services, the health of our society is often based on programs and decisions made in our government. Nearly 28% of Americans have health insurance from a government program. However, the government does not just pay attention to health coverage and services. Congress created the Department of Health and Human Services to certify food and drugs through the FDA, prevent disease through the Centers for Disease Prevention, protect our lives from disasters and emergencies, and provide us with information regarding the safety of products we purchase.

Americans are aware of how important government decisions are regarding our health. According to a recent survey, 82% of the public were more likely to vote for a candidate who supported increased funding for health research and 76% were more likely to support a candidate who promised more funding for health care reform. Seventy-four percent of Americans believe that significant changes are needed to make our health care system better with eighty-one percent of Americans believing that our health care system should focus more on preventing illness rather than dealing with illnesses once symptoms are apparent. A large majority of people want increased funding for health care -- from local health departments to federal health service programs.