Roughly two-thirds of Americans support the idea of Medicare-for-all, according to a KFF poll released Tuesday, the highest share since the health policy research and news organization began polling on the idea 10 years ago.
But the public’s views are highly malleable as they hear competing claims and arguments from supporters and critics of the policy — and would be likely to shift amid any public debate on the topic, the poll of 1,328 adults in September showed.
For instance: Support for a national health plan declined when people heard the arguments that it could lead to delays in medical tests and treatments and tax increases or threaten the current Medicare program. But support grew when those surveyed were told that it could make health insurance “a right” or eliminate premiums and cost-sharing.
Party matters: The idea of a national health plan, often favored by progressive candidates, is still a highly partisan issue. Roughly 84 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of independents said they “strongly favor” or “somewhat favor” Medicare-for-all, whereas 66 percent of Republicans “strongly oppose” or “somewhat oppose” it.
Looking to the midterms: As affordability remains a major issue ahead of the November elections, the KFF poll found that health care costs and gas prices are tied as Americans’ top economic worries. Voters trust the Democratic Party more to handle health care costs by nearly 2 to 1 over the Republican Party.
Democrats’ edge on health care costs has risen from an 11-point advantage in April to a 20-point advantage in September. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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