Latest Presidential Tracking Polls 2012

Americans Want a Public Option But Prefer to Use Private Insurance

7/13/2009, by Proloy Bhatta

HIGHLIGHTS

Americans somewhat split on whether they want to pay more in taxes to support an overhaul of health care.
73% would want to require businesses to help pay the costs of health care.
69% want a public government insurance option.

69% say they want a government insurance option but 53% say they would prefer to use private insurance.

Quinnipiac University Poll. June 23-29, 2009. N=3,063 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 1.8 (for all adults).
					.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care?"
					.
		Approve	Disapprove	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	46	42	13
					.
"Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care: President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?"
					.
		President Obama	Republicans in Congress	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	53	33	14
					.
"Which do you think is the more important goal for health care legislation: reducing health care costs or covering those who don't have health insurance?"
					.
		Costs	Coverage	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	54	38	8
					.
"Do you think it's the government's responsibility to make sure that everyone in the United States has adequate health care, or don't you think so?"
					.
		Think It Is	Don't Think So	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	53	44	4
	Republicans	25	72	3
	Democrats	77	18	4
	Independents	49	48	4
					.
	11/6-10/08	60	36	4
	Republicans	34	63	3
	Democrats	84	12	4
	Independents	56	39	5
					.
	5/8-12/08	61	35	4
	10/23-29/07	57	38	5
	2/13-19/07	64	31	4
					.
"Would you be willing or unwilling to pay more in taxes for a health care overhaul plan that reduces health care costs and covers those who don't have health insurance?"
					.
		Willing	Unwilling	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	49	45	6
					.
	Asked of those who are willing to pay more in taxes: "How much more would you be willing to pay in taxes each year: less than 500 dollars, between 500 and 1,000 dollars, between 1,000 and 3,000 dollars, or over 3,000 dollars?"
					.
		Less Than $500	Between $500 & $1,000	Between $1,000 & $3,000	Over $3,000	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	54	30	7	3	6
					.
"Would you support or oppose a new tax on employees for the health care benefits that they receive from their employers?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	30	63	7
					.
"Some people say that raising taxes on families who earn more than 250,000 dollars would not raise enough money to pay for a health care overhaul plan. Do you agree or disagree?"
					.
		Agree	Disagree	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	46	38	16
					.
"Do you support or oppose requiring people to have health insurance?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	44	51	5
					.
"Do you support or oppose requiring businesses to help pay the cost of health insurance for their employees?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	73	24	3
					.
"Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	69	26	5
	Republicans	50	44	6
	Democrats	86	10	4
	Independents	66	29	5
					.
"Would you rather purchase health insurance from a private sector company or from a government program?"
					.
		Private Sector	Government Program	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	53	28	19
					.
"Some people say that giving people the option of being covered by a government insurance plan will keep private insurance companies honest. Do you agree or disagree?"
					.
		Agree	Disagree	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	52	42	6
					.
"Some people say that giving people the option of being covered by a government insurance plan would ultimately lead to the end of private health insurance and the government would end up running the health care system. Do you agree or disagree?"
					.
		Agree	Disagree	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	46	49	6
					.
"If the government ran the health care system, do you think that would be a good thing or a bad thing?"
					.
		Good Thing	Bad Thing	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	32	58	10
					.
"If a health care overhaul plan lowered your health care costs and insured all Americans, but limited your choice of doctor, hospital or treatment, would you support or oppose such a plan?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	30	66	4
					.
"If a health care overhaul plan lowered your health care costs and allowed your choice of any doctor, hospital or treatment you wanted, but did not insure all Americans, would you support or oppose such a plan?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	44	48	8
					.
"If a health care overhaul plan allowed your choice of any doctor, hospital or treatment you wanted and insured all Americans, but did not lower your health care costs, would you support or oppose such a plan?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	59	35	6
					.
"Are you now covered by any form of health insurance or health plan?"
					.
		Yes	No
		%	%
	6/23-29/09	88	11
					.
	Asked of those with health coverage: "How satisfied are you with your health insurance plan: very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?"
					.
		Very Satisfied	Somewhat Satisfied	Somewhat Dissatisfied	Very Dissatisfied	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	49	36	10	4	1
					.
"Thinking about both the cost and quality of the health care that you receive, do you think that you get good value for the money that you spend on health care?"
					.
		Yes	No	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	70	25	5
					.
"Thinking about both the cost and quality of the health care that most Americans receive, do you think most Americans get good value for the money that they spend on health care?"
					.
		Yes	No	Unsure
		%	%	%
	6/23-29/09	34	52	14