North Carolina's democratic congressional delegation appears prepared to support President Obama's agenda for healthcare reform. But there are still questions on how the nation will pay for it.

During a public appearance in Research Triangle Park, Senator Kay Hagan said she is holding off on her endorsement until the Senate introduces its financing package.

"One of the most critical issues for me is to be sure that this is covered and will not put a debt burden on our country," she said.

Hagan said phones in her office have been ringing "off the hook" with calls from constituents who are concerned about healthcare costs. U.S. Representative Brad Miller said the current system must change.

"We're spending 16 or 17 percent of our total economy on healthcare," said Miller. "The rest of the developed world - prosperous countries - are spending about 10 percent. But that six or seven percent isn't just disappearing up into the atmosphere, it's going in somebody's pockets."

State Republican Party Chair Tom Fetzer said the debate is really about health insurance. He added that while changes are needed to make insurance more affordable, overhauling the entire healthcare system is not the way to do it.

"Look at the other countries that have gone to national healthcare and look at what happens to their quality and their choice and ask, do we really want that to happen in America?" he said. "And I think most Americans will say, no, we don't."

Critics of the president's plan for a national health insurance program include the state's largest insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.C.. In an appearance before the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce last week, CEO Bob Greczyn argued that reforms can be accomplished without government intervention.

"We can do all the things that are the basic tenants of health reform," he said. "We can do them within the private market system and our feet will be held to the fire on it."

A new national media study revealed that the campaign against health reform is resonating with Americans. The study, done by HCD Research, showed that Republicans and Independents found anti-health care reform testimonials on television more effective than pro-reform ads. Democrats were split on which ad they thought was more effective. Click here to see more on the study.

If President Obama hopes to succeed at reform, even his supporters say he has to convince the public that change is worth the cost.

"If folks don't understand what something is, their basic inclination is to be opposed to it," said U.S. Representative Bob Etheridge. "Even though it may be in their best interest in the end, and I think this is."