These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
82% Say Workers Should Be Allowed To Choose Their Own Insurance
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Though a majority of voters believe the system of employers providing health insurance to their workers is a good one, most believe employees should be allowed to pick their own.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 82% believe that, if it didn't cost the employer any extra money, a worker should be allowed to pick his or her own health insurance plan if they didn't like the one provided by the employer. Only eight percent (8%) say the worker should not have this option. (To see survey question wording, click here .)
Voters were also asked about a scenario in which a company provides health insurance for a worker and his family that costs $1,000 a month but the worker decides to switch to other coverage that costs only $800 per month. In this situation, 52% of voters think the worker should get the $200 monthly savings, while 34% say the company should get it. Another 14% aren't sure.
Still, 61% of voters like the fact that most working Americans have health insurance provided by their employer. Twenty-four percent (24%) do not think this is a good system for providing health insurance, while 15% more are undecided.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 24-25, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology .
Back in March of 2009, 59% of adults said all companies should be required to provide health insurance for all employees , while 31% disagreed. However, the same survey found most believe if a young and health adult doesn't want to buy insurance, they shouldn't have to.
However, 66% believe the cost of insurance would decrease if consumers could choose their own plans and insurance companies had to compete for their business. Only 14% believe the cost of health insurance would go up if consumers could choose their own coverage. Another 21% are undecided.
Earlier polling found that voters think less government red tape and more competition are the best ways to bring down health care costs.
They also believe letting states compete to determine the most effective standards and guidelines would do more to reduce health care costs than having the federal government involved.
A majority of Republicans, Democrats and voters not affiliated with either major political party agree that workers should be allowed to buy other insurance coverage than the one provided by their employer.
But Republicans and unaffiliated voters feel stronger than Democrats that the current system of employers providing coverage is a good one.
Voters who belong to a labor union are more likely than those not in unions to say the current system of employer-provided health care is a good one.
Most voters continue to favor repeal of the national health care law , and fewer voters than ever believe the law will be good for the country.