Health Insurance Reform Mythbuster: 'Doctors Oppose Public Health Insurance Option'

Health insurance reform opponents continue to spread myths about components of America's Affordable Health Choices Act, including the myth that doctors oppose current health insurance reform proposals. This evening, the New England Journal of Medicine released a survey conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showing overwhelming support among physicians from across the country for a public health insurance option as part of comprehensive health insurance reform.

Myth: Doctors oppose the public health insurance option.

Fact: According to a new survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 63 percent of physicians support a health reform proposal that includes both a public option and traditional private insurance. If the additional 10 percent of doctors who support a public-only option are included, then 73 percent of doctors across the country support inclusion of a public option:

Only 27 percent of those surveyed support private-only options.

In addition, the survey found that the inclusion of a public option is popular among doctors in every region of the nation. The percentage of physicians -- by region -- who support either a reform proposal including both a public option and traditional private insurance or a public-only option are as follows:

81.5% - Northeast

75.9% - West

71.4% - Midwest

65.2% - South

Read the full survey>>