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Most believe smokers should pay more health insurance.

WASHINGTON: Most Americans think that people who smoke should pay more for health insurance.

A study released Tuesday by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago found that sixty percent believe that smokers should pay more for health insurance and another 29 percent said the obese should pay more. Only 12 percent believe it is appropriate for people with family histories of heart disease or cancer to pay more.

Most Americans support employers expanding health coverage (88 percent) or the government providing coverage to all (61 percent) — even though the two solutions are contradictory.

The researchers' findings, which were detailed in the journal Health Affairs, confirm past opinion polls that show no clear consensus on how to finance health care improvements.

Viewpoints: Remembering Milton FriedmanResearchers said they asked the questions about smokers or obese people paying more because they wanted to see whether Americans really subscribed to the principle of insurance, which is sharing risk across the population, Berk said.

Currently, there are 46 million uninsured people in the United States. When asked whether Americans should be required to have basic health insurance, just as they are required to have car insurance if they drive, 52 percent believe it should be mandatory.

However, a major exception to that belief was among the uninsured. That suggests that many people do not believe it's in their best interest to purchase health insurance, Berk said.

The study, which involved interviews with 1,500 people, was conducted in July. The margin of error for questions was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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CastleAdventure.com

Most believe smokers should pay more health insurance.

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