Half of Americans support the notion of providing health care for free to all Americans even though they expect it will reduce the overall quality of care, increase the overall cost, and increase their personal costs. However, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that support falls dramatically if the plan requires everyone with insurance to “change their coverage and join a program administered by the government.” This is consistent with a large body of research suggesting strong resistance to any proposal requiring people to switch from the current health insurance.

A survey conducted September 29-30 found that 51% of American adults initially supported the notion that health care should be made available for free to all Americans. The survey also found that most Americans (52%) believed that such an approach would decrease the quality of health care in the United States. Just 29% thought it would improve the overall quality of care.

Forty-nine percent (49%) believe that making care available for free to everyone would increase the nation’s overall cost of providing care. Just 22% thought it would result in savings. Fifty-two percent (52%) thought that, when taxes were considered, the proposal would end up costing them more than they pay now. Just 28% thought their own costs would go down.

Despite these concerns, when asked to consider these impacts, 47% of adults continued to support the concept of providing health care for free to all Americans.

However, that support falters when people are asked to support a plan that provides coverage for all but requires everyone with insurance to “change their coverage and join a program administered by the government.” A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey conducted October 9-10 found that just 31% of adults would support that plan.

One big reason for the drop in support is that 68% of those who are already insured believe their own health care coverage would get worse. Only 18% think it would improve. Eighty-two percent (82%) of those surveyed are currently insured.

A plurality (45%) of Democrats favor offering free health care to all even if it required making everyone with insurance to switch. Thirty-five percent (35%) of Democrats oppose such a plan. However, Republicans oppose it by a 70% to 18% margin. Those not affiliated with either major party are opposed by a 46% to 28% margin.

That’s consistent with earlier research showing that 31% rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent but that 72% of those with insurance give such positive reviews to their own insurance coverage.

The data suggests that many Americans have come to see health care coverage as a basic right that should be available to everyone. At the same time, it suggests that any proposal forcing people to switch their current insurance coverage will be unlikely to attain popular support.

Another survey released last month by Rasmussen Reports found that 50% of Americans support government guaranteed health coverage and 62% say the U.S. health care system needs major changes.

Fifty-two percent (52%) say that reducing health care costs is a higher priority than making sure everyone is insured. Thirty-nine percent (39%) take the opposite view. Most Democrats (57%) say that providing insurance for everyone is the top priority. Most Republicans (71%) and those not affiliated with either party (52%) say reducing costs should be the priority.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of voters rate health care as a Very Important Issue for Election 2008. Fifty-one percent (51%) trust Democrats more on this issue while 35% trust Republicans.

Rasmussen Reports has asked the underlying question about offering health care for free on three separate surveys. In mid-September, 44% supported the proposal. In our late September survey, 51% expressed support. In October, 52% answered yes to the question “Should health care be made available for free to all Americans?”

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