Pat Dollard

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Rasmussen:

Confidence in U.S. Health Care System Has Grown in Recent Months

Forty-eight percent (48%) of U.S. voters now rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 19% rate it as poor.

These figures reflect a significant increase in support for the health care system over the past few months. In May, just 35% of adults nationwide rated the system as good or excellent. A year ago, just 29% of Likely Voters rated the system in such positive terms.

The new polling also shows that 80% of those with insurance rate their own coverage as good or excellent. That’s up from 70% in May.

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There is a huge partisan gap on perceptions of the U.S. health care system. Seven-out-of-10 Republicans rate it as good or excellent, but only one-of-four Democrats agree. Among those not affiliated with either major political party, 53% rate the current system as good or excellent while just 18% say it’s poor.

Over the past few months, as the health care reform debate has raged, confidence in the current system has increased significantly among Republicans and unaffiliated voters. There has been little change among Democrats.

Just 28% say they are willing to pay higher taxes so that all Americans can have health insurance. Sixty percent (60%) are opposed. Those figures are little changed since May.

Recent polling has shown that cost, not universal coverage, is the top concern about health care.

Seventy-four percent (74%) of voters rate the quality of care they receive as good or excellent. In May, just 62% of adults said the same.

Just seven percent (7%) now rate the quality of care they receive as poor. That’s little changed since May.

Polling last week showed that 47% of voters favor the health care reform plan working its way through Congress while 49% are opposed. However, those who oppose it show more intensity: Just 25% Strongly Favor the legislation while 41% are Strongly Opposed.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) say it’s likely the passage of health care reform will lead to higher taxes for the middle class.

Caution should be used in comparing results between samples of Likely Voters and Adults. Differences on the same questions can sometimes be in the range of 3-5 percentage points. In general, samples of adults will show results a few points more favorable to President Obama.