Senior Citizens Lead Swing to Support Government-Run
Health Care Plan; U.S. Now Supports It
Independents and seniors, two groups crucial to the
debate, have warmed to the idea of a public option, and are particularly
supportive
Oct. 20, 2009 Senior citizens and independents
have swung to favor a government-run health-care plan to compete with
private insurers, according to a new Washington Post-ABC poll showing
support for the government-run plan to complete with private insurance
has rebounded from its summertime lows and wins clear majority support
from the public.
A rift remains among Americans on the overall shape
of the plans. "But sizable majorities back two key and controversial
provisions: both the so-called public option and a new mandate that
would require all Americans to carry health insurance."
The Post notes that "independents and senior
citizens, two groups crucial to the debate, have warmed to the idea of a
public option, and are particularly supportive if it would be
administered by the states and limited to those without access to
affordable private coverage."
In the poll, 57 percent of Americans favor the
public option while 40 percent oppose it. Only 45 percent favor the
outlines of the plans moving through Congress, however, with 48 percent
opposed (Balz and Cohen, 10/20).
Fewest Americans in 26 Year Claim to be
Republicans
ABC News reports that the GOP is finding itself in challenging
political times: "Only 20 percent of Americans now identify themselves
as Republicans, the fewest in 26 years. Just 19 percent, similarly,
trust the Republicans in Congress to make the right decisions for the
country's future; even among Republicans themselves just four in 10 are
confident in their own party. For comparison, 49 percent overall express
this confidence in Obama, steady since August albeit well below its
peak."
"The president's ratings on domestic issues
underscore their particularly contentious nature. ... On health care, he
gets an even split: 48 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove, again
with more strongly disapproving, 38 percent, than strongly approving, 30
percent" (Langer, 10/19).
The Boston Globe's Political Intelligence blog: "While 7 in 10
Democrats back the plan being put together, Obama's strong approval
ratings on health care from fellow Democrats have dropped 15 percentage
points since mid-September" (Rhee, 10/19).
AFP reports the poll questioned 1,004 adults from October 15-18, and
reports on American attitudes toward reform and the national deficit:
"Only 10 percent of those surveyed believed claims that health care
reform could decrease the deficit, while 68 said they expected it would
increase the US deficit." For 31 percent, however, an increase would be
a worthy tradeoff for universal care compared to 37 percent who said it
would not be worth the increase (10/20).
Separately, The
Associated Press reports on a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation monthly
poll which found that 1/3 of Americans said they are worried about
losing current coverage in September, up from 29 percent in August.
"The worries about losing health insurance were
greatest among young adults (40 percent), followed by middle-aged people
(38 percent). But 29 percent of seniors also said they were worried,
even though they have taxpayer-subsidized coverage through Medicare."
The poll also revealed that more than half of
Americans say they are following the debate closely (Alonso-Zaldivar,
10/20).
Finally,
NPR reports that the health care reform debate looks different
outside Washington. NPR's Joanne Silberner interviews families and
individuals with their own ideas on health care. "On her drive down
Interstate 95, she stopped to find out what people along the way had to
say about the efforts in Washington to overhaul the nation's health care
system." Family restaurant owner Chris Zourzoukis said "Sometimes I lose
money on this business, you know. So, if I have to pay the insurance for
the employees, I have to keep money from them" (Silberner, 10/18).
Oct. 20, 2009 Senior citizens and independents
have swung to favor a government-run health-care plan to compete with
private insurers, according to a new Washington Post-ABC poll showing
support for the government-run plan to complete with private insurance
has rebounded from its summertime lows and wins clear majority support
from the public.
