Between October 28, 2009 and November 13, 2009 we asked Americans to rank their support for various forms of the "public option" currently under consideration by Congress for inclusion in the final health care reform bill. We've always known that a majority of Americans support the public option, and the 83,954 respondents who participated in our poll reflect the fact that Americans want the strongest possible public option that can pass the Congress:
Four out of five survey respondents voiced full support for a "50 state public option."
A majority of respondents voiced moderate to high support for a public option that includes a state "opt-out" provision.
Roughly three out of four survey respondents voiced little or no support for a public option bill that requires states to "opt-in" before they can participate, and
Only 12% of respondents voiced moderate to full support for a so-called "trigger," with 65% completely opposed to such a compromise.
I hope you will take a moment to review these results in greater depth below, as I share our findings with my colleagues in the Senate to encourage the inclusion of a robust public option in the final health care reform bill.
Public Option Type
Median Ranking
Average Ranking
Distribution Summary
50-State Public Option A fully-funded public health insurance option to extend coverage to uninsured Americans and introduce competition to keep private insurance companies honest.
10
8.56
Opt-Out Public Option A fully-funded public health insurance option, which would allow individual states to "opt out" of participation, much like the popular Medicare and Medicaid federal health coverage programs, which are currently available in all 50 states.
5
4.52
Opt-In Public Option Legislation that would require each state to "opt in" to a fully-funded public health insurance option, likely resulting in lower participation rates than an "opt-out" public option.
1
2.31
Trigger Legislation that would only allow for the creation of a public health insurance option several years from now, if and only if private insurance companies continue unreasonable premium increases and demonstrate an unwillingness to compete in the marketplace.
0
1.14
No Public Option Offer no public health insurance plan to compete with the private plans.
0
1.10
50-State Public Option
A fully-funded public health insurance option to extend coverage to uninsured Americans and introduce competition to keep private insurance companies honest.
Opt-Out Public Option
A fully-funded public health insurance option, which would allow individual states to "opt out" of participation, much like the popular Medicare and Medicaid federal health coverage programs, which are currently available in all 50 states.
Opt-In Public Option
Legislation that would require each state to "opt in" to a fully-funded public health insurance option, likely resulting in lower participation rates than an "opt-out" public option.
Trigger
Legislation that would only allow for the creation of a public health insurance option several years from now, if and only if private insurance companies continue unreasonable premium increases and demonstrate an unwillingness to compete in the marketplace.
No Public Option
Offer no public health insurance plan to compete with the private plans.
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