Deep public dissatisfaction with the current health insurance system is evident in a new poll showing that 64% of Americans support expanding Medicare as a choice for anyone who wants an option to the private insurance market. The poll numbers illustrate unease with rising premiums, diminishing benefits and loss of health coverage when a job disappears.

The poll also found that 60% of respondents want a Medicare-for-anyone option even after hearing that they would have to pay - sharing the cost of the coverage with their employer through increased Medicare payroll deductions, instead of paying private health insurance premiums.

"Americans overwhelmingly believe that they should not have to wait until they are 65 years old or become disabled to have access to Medicare," said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. "This poll shows that Americans in the midst of financial crisis are willing to pay for access to Medicare because of their insecurity about losing their health coverage and the high price of private health insurance."

The poll, part of an independent national consumer product marketing survey by CARAVAN, is based on 863 interviews with registered voters in the United States conducted January 23 through January 26, 2009. The poll questions were drafted by Grove Insight for Consumer Watchdog.

President Obama has proposed giving Americans a "public option" to the private insurance market as a candidate but has not defined that option. Consumer Watchdog said President Obama should take the popularity of the idea of opening Medicare to any American regardless of age when choosing a point person to lead the White House's health care efforts