A new poll by Data for Progress finds that two-thirds of Americans support Medicare for All, aka, a national health insurance program. Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities and want lower health care costs, even if it means higher taxes and the end of most corporate health insurance. They know that people in other developed countries, with less wealth than the US, spend far less on better health care with better health outcomes.
Americans’ top concern in the Data for Progress poll is their cost of living. With Medicare for All, the US would guarantee all Americans health care and pay for it through our tax system. Most Americans want national health insurance rather than our private health insurance system.
More than three-quarters of Democrats (78 percent) polled support Medicare for All. More than seven out of ten Independents (71 percent) polled also support Medicare for All. And, just shy of one in two Republicans (49 percent) polled support Medicare for All.
Data for Progress explained to the 1,207 poll respondents that most private insurance would no longer exist with Medicare for All. People would pay higher taxes but they would no longer pay health insurance premiums. And, out-of-pocket costs for their health care would be minimal. This explanation reduced overall support for Medicare for all only slightly to 63 percent.
Data for Progress then told respondents that Medicare for All would mean that everyone could get needed care, but opponents would claim that their taxes will go up and the government would control their health care. And, still, 58 percent of respondents said they supported Medicare for All.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Medicare for All lowers taxes for most Americans
- Government agency finds Medicare for all saves money
- Medicare for All would lead to a better performing labor market
- Medicare for all would rationalize the cost of care
- Medicare for all would save 68,000 lives a year
