By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer In spite of consistent government denials, a new national survey has found that most Americans believe the worst about a public health care option. According to a report by LiveScience, researchers at Indiana University surveyed 600 Americans from Aug. 14-18 on whether or not they believe 19 claims about health care reform, all of which is considered to be a “myth” by the White House. While the majority of Americans said they believed the claims, the results were strikingly partisan. "It's perhaps not surprising that more Republicans believe these things than Democrats," said study scientist Dr. Aaron Carroll, director of Indiana University's Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research. "What is surprising is just how many Republicans - and Independents - believe them. If the White House hopes to convince the majority of Americans that they are misinformed about health care reform, there is much work to be done.” Among the results on items the White House considers to be myths: • 67 percent of respondents believe that wait times for health care services, such as surgery, will increase (91 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of Independents). • About five out of 10 believe the federal government will become directly involved in making personal health care decisions (80 percent of Republicans, 25 percent of Democrats, 56 percent of Independents). • Roughly six out of 10 Americans believe taxpayers will be required to pay for abortions (78 percent of Republicans, 30 percent of Democrats, 58 percent of Independents) • 46 percent believe reforms will result in health care coverage for all illegal immigrants (66 percent of Republicans, 29 percent of Democrats, 43 percent of Independents). • 54 percent believe the public option will increase premiums for Americans with private health insurance (78 percent of Republicans, 28 percent of Democrats, 58 percent of Independents). • Five out of 10 think cuts will be made to Medicare in order to cover more Americans (66 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of Democrats, 44 percent of Independents). What the public found less believable is that a public option will put private insurers out of business and that the government will require the elderly to make decisions about how and when they will die. © All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com