American Public Remains Divided Over Proposed Healthcare Reform

Survey finds deep partisan rift on healthcare and great uncertainty about future of Social Security and Medicare

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UTICA, New York - As Congress heads into its annual August recess without having achieved a consensus on healthcare reform, a new Zogby Interactive survey finds a majority of Americans are evenly split on the basic structure of proposed reform. 

Respondents were presented with two statements describing different universal healthcare plans and asked whether they agree or disagree with each: 

Universal Plan A - "Do you agree or disagree with a universal healthcare plan that would require everyone in the U.S. to have health insurance with federal help for those who cannot pay the premiums?" 

Universal Plan B - "Do you agree or disagree with a universal healthcare plan where the government would provide health insurance for everyone in the U.S. under a single-payer plan, similar to everyone having Medicare?" 

Plan A

	Overall	Democrats	Independents	Republicans
Agree	49	86	43	11
Disagree	48	11	53	86
Not Sure	3	3	3	2

*Numbers may not add to 100% due to rounding

Plan B

	Overall	Democrats	Independents	Republicans
Agree	44	81	39	7
Disagree	52	15	57	91
Not Sure	4	5	4	2

*Numbers may not add to 100% due to rounding

A plurality of respondents (49%) agreed with Plan A, which most closely resembles the current reform proposals, while 48% disagreed.  Plan B received slightly less support with only 44% agreeing to a potential "Medicare for all" system.  The partisan split between Republicans and Democrats is significant and currently a majority of political independents disagree with both proposed reforms. 

The survey also included questions about the upcoming challenges facing the Baby Boomer generation as they entire retirement.  Less than half of all respondents (42%) believe that Social Security will be available for them, while 50% believe Medicare will be available.  The survey shows far fewer believe that either program will be available for their children. This Zogby Interactive survey of 4,811 adults nationwide was conducted July 15-20, 2009 and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.4 percentage points. The survey results were presented by John Zogby, Saturday, July 25, as part of the Aspen Health Forum in Aspen, CO, where he was a featured panelist. 

Believe Social Security Will Be There For . . .

	Overall		18-29		30-49		50-64		65+
	You	Your Children	You	Your Children	You	Your Children	You	Your Children	You	Your Children
Yes	42	18	18	23	23	10	62	18	89	29
No	35	54	62	63	47	67	16	45	4	26
Not Sure	22	29	21	14	30	23	22	37	8	45

*Numbers may not add to 100% due to rounding

Believe Medicare Will Be There For . . .

	Overall		18-29		30-49		50-64		65+
	You	Your Children	You	Your Children	You	Your Children	You	Your Children	You	Your Children
Yes	50	18	39	20	33	15	60	17	89	24
No	23	45	31	47	34	55	13	41	2	25
Not Sure	26	37	30	33	32	31	27	43	9	51

This survey follows on the heels of a larger healthcare poll conducted by Zogby International and the University of Texas , that found a similar split among the American public on proposed health care reform.

For a complete methodological statement on this survey, please visit:

http://www.zogby.com/methodology/readmeth.cfm?ID=1407

Please click the link below to view the full news release:
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1727

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