Single-Payer Support Monitor

Chart of Americans’ Support

Over half of Americans want non-profit national health insurance: single-payer, Medicare for All)

Eight polls in 2007
- See the bar chart below and its list of sources
Confirmation of support in 2009 and in 2010
- See that confirmation below.

U.S. Congress Support for Single-Payer

Source of information is below, as obtained from Americans from early 2007 through late 2007.
Confirmation of the degree of support was also done in 2009 and in 2010.

Sources of information for bar graph

9 – Associated Press - Yahoo [with link to pdf] — 65% — Dec 2007
— Question ISS14. The United States should adopt a universal health insurance program in which everyone is covered under a program like Medicare that is run by the government and financed by taxpayers: 65% yes; 34% no; 2% refused / not answered

8 – Associated Press - Yahoo [with link to pdf] — 54% — Dec 2007
— Question ISS15. Do you consider yourself a supporter of a single-payer health care system, that is a national health plan financed by taxpayers in which all Americans would get their insurance from a single government plan, or not?: 54% yes; 44% no; 2% refused / not answered

7 – Los Angeles Times / Bloomberg [pdf] — 53% — Oct 2007
— Create a government-run, government-financed health insurance program that would cover all Americans: 53% agree, 36% disagree, 11% don’t know.

6 —- CBS News Poll — 55% — Sept 2007
— one health insurance program covering all Americans that would be administered by the government and paid for by taxpayers (55%); keeping the current system where many people get their insurance from private employers and some have no insurance (29%); not sure (9%)

5 – CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll — 64% — May 2007
— “Do you think the government should provide a national health insurance program for all Americans, even if this would require higher taxes?”

4 —- National Small Business Association — 60% — Mar 2007
— federally-funded, government administered health care system financed through taxes in which everyone has health care coverage for all medically necessary treatment and procedures

3 —- The New York Times / CBS News[pdf] — 64% — Feb 2007
— federal government should guarantee health insurance for all

2 —- The New York Times / CBS News[pdf] — 47% — Feb 2007
— one health insurance program for all administered by the government vs. 38% keep current system where many people get their insurance from private employers and some have no insurance

1 —- Related topic: concern of Americans about the uninsured. The New York Times / CBS News[pdf] - Page 15, Question 25 — 95% — Feb 2007
— serious problem that many Americans do not have health insurance

Confirmation in 2009 that over half of Americans support having non-profit national health insurance

“Americans are more likely today to embrace the idea of the government providing health insurance than they were 30 years ago. 59% of Americans say the government should provide national health insurance, including 49% who say such insurance should cover all medical problems.” — bolding was added.

The Question. “Should the government in Washington provide national health insurance, or is this something that should be left only to private enterprise?”

Poll results of February 1, 2009:
32% Private enterprise
59% Government
9% Don’t know

See the complete New York Times/CBS News poll which provides the above confirmation that over half of Americans want national health insurance.

See the bar chart (above) of results of the 8 additional polls from early through late 2007.

Confirmation in 2010: in the situation of the U.S. Congress and the President NOT proceeding in 2009 and first quarter 2010 with national health insurance, Americans among 9 states state strongly that they at least want it as an available option

The Question. “Would you favor or oppose the national government offering everyone the choice of buying into a government administered health insurance plan – something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get – that would compete with private health insurance plans?”

Poll results of February 20, 2010
In favor: 57% to 68%

See the complete survey that was conducted in 9 states: Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington.

See the bar chart (above) of results of the 8 additional polls from early through late 2007.

Special note about public opinion

There is a control on public opinion that occurs when health insurance companies conduct massive, expensive media campaigns. That influences public opinion against single-payer. We individual Americans can also control public opinion, but in a positive way to have solid support of single-payer, Medicare for All, by using the available resources to tell our fellow Americans about single-payer and its benefits. — Bob

Help Get Care

Additional Information

Also see Physicians for their level of support for single-payer.

The U.S. politicians failure to respond to the need is seen here:
— Overview: the World View
— Details: the Monitor Political Support section of the Support Monitor.

The U.S. is a representative democracy, so the failure of the politicians to act is a reflection on the critical need for citizens to take action via the communications campaign “Million Letters for Health Care”.

The Campaign Status

Single-Payer Support Monitor

Chart of Americans’ Support

Help Get Care

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