WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Nearly half of voters support a single-payer healthcare system where all Americans would get their health insurance from one government plan, according to the results of a new Politico/Morning Consult poll.
The poll found that 49 percent of voters support a single-payer healthcare system, including 25 percent that strongly support the idea.
Thirty-five percent of voters oppose a single-payer system, while another 17 percent said they don't know or have no opinion.
Support for a single-payer system among Democrats has jumped to 67 percent from 54 percent the last time the question was asked in a Politico/Morning Consult poll in April.
Meanwhile, 52 percent of Republicans are opposed to a single-payer system, including 37 percent that are strongly opposed.
The poll was conducted after Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced legislation that would guarantee healthcare to every American through a Medicare for All, single-payer program.
The bill was cosponsored by sixteen Democratic Senators, including several potential candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
However, most of the Democratic congressional leaders have been reluctant to endorse the plan amid concerns it could alienate moderate voters.
The Politico/Morning Consult poll found that a single-payer system is more popular than a 'public option' that would create a government-run health insurance agency that would compete with private insurance companies.
Forty-four percent of voters support the public option, while 33 percent are opposed and 22 percent don't know or have no opinion.
The survey of 1,994 registered voters was conducted September 14th through 17th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
(Photo: Gage Skidmore)
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX