Majority Nationally Shows Support For Massachusetts-Style Health Law
With Gov. Mitt Romney set to sign Massachusetts' new universal health-coverage law today, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds the idea a popular one: Fifty-five percent of Americans say they'd support similar legislation in their own state.
The law, described by its supporters as a national model, requires all residents of the state to have health insurance. It includes a tax penalty for people who don't buy insurance, a $295 per-worker fee for businesses that don't provide it, and subsidies to help poor and low-income residents pay premiums.
Health care is a potent political issue; 75 percent of Americans call it very important in their vote in congressional elections this fall, ranking it just after Iraq, terrorism and the economy. Among people who call health care a top issue, 58 support a version of the Massachusetts law in their own state; among those who call the subject less important, support drops to 45 percent.
It's also an issue on which the Republicans would like to reclaim territory. Currently 62 percent of Americans disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling health care, and the public picks the Democratic Party over the Republicans in trust to handle it by a whopping 61 to 29 percent. Romney, a Republican, may run for president in 2008.
Critics have called the measure a government intrusion. Support levels vary among groups, declining among Republicans and conservatives. But in neither group does a majority oppose the idea.
Fifty-eight percent of Democrats and independents alike say they'd support such a plan in their own state. Republicans are more divided - 49 percent in favor, 46 percent opposed. Similarly, 58 percent of liberals and moderates are in favor; conservatives split 50-46 percent. Support drops to 45 percent among evangelical white Protestants, a core conservative Republican group, with 47 percent opposed.
The plan is most popular in the Northeast (63 percent support) and least so in the Midwest (47 percent). Its support peaks among middle-aged Americans, 40 to 64 years old. Younger adults tend to have fewer health-care needs, and older adults have Medicare.
Massachusetts-style law
in your state
Support Oppose
All 55% 41
Democrat 58 37
Independent 58 39
Republican 49 46
Liberal 57 38
Moderate 58 38
Conservative 50 46
Evangelical white
Protestant 45 47
Non-evangelical white
Protestant 58 37
East 63 32
Midwest 47 48
South 55 41
West 56 40
Age <40 53 45
40-64 58 37
65+ 49 39
METHODOLOGY - This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone April 6-9, 2006, among a random national sample of 1,027 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.
Analysis by Gary Langer.