Reuters Poll - Public Wants Public Option

According to a Reuters poll released December 3, 09, most Americans want a "public option" included within the framework of healthcare or health insurance reform. In a telephone survey of 2,999 households conducted November 9-17, nearly 60% said they would like a public option as part of any final healthcare reform legislation, which Republicans and a few Democrats oppose.

Poll numbers reveal:

• Believe in public option: 59.9 percent yes, 40.1 percent no.
• Support for public option by voter registration
  
  • 86% of Democrats
  • 57% of Independents
  • 33% of Republicans.
• Quality of healthcare will be better 12 months from now:
  
  • 35% strongly disagree
  • 11.6% strongly agree
  • 29.9% replied neutral
• Believe the amount of money spent on healthcare will be less 12 months from now
  • 52% strongly disagree
  • 13% strongly agree
• Twenty-three percent of respondents believe it will be easier for people to receive the care they need a year from now.

Note: The nationally representative survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percent.