Health care now, and later

We are reminded again just how much health care matters in the upcoming elections.

A CBS News poll taken in mid-October found voters are almost equally concerned about health care and the war in Iraq. In the poll, respondents were asked what they'd like to hear the candidates for president discuss more of during the 2008 campaign. While 26% said the war in Iraq, 25% said health care.

But the issue may loom larger than we all thought. As the New York Times' Janet Elder reports, that poll coded health care and the economy in separate categories. But, she adds, because the cost of health care is also an economic issue, "it should probably be considered alongside other economic concerns like jobs." And when you look at it that way, the figures are even more startling: 36 % for the combined economic-health care category and just 26% for the war in Iraq.

A new New York Times/CBS poll taken over the weekend in Iowa and New Hampshire shows health care still looming large, especially among Democrats. In Iowa, 36% of likely Democratic caucus goers said the war is their top issue and 22% said health care. But when you combine health care with other economic concerns, that number among Democrats balloons to 39%.

Among Republicans, terrorism was the top concern, even when you combine health care with other economic concerns.

As for what the future president should focus on regarding health care, a new report out today from the nonpartisan, non-profit Commonwealth Fund gave some suggestions. Among them: universal health care, an emphasis on prevention and treating chronic diseases, and electronic record keeping.

These topics are touched on by many candidates (see our comparison chart), but "what we're really saying here is none of the candidates go far enough," said Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund.

For the full story, check out WebMD's report by Todd Zwillich.

Sean Swint
Executive Editor, WebMD

(Patrick Adams contributed to this post)