New poll finds 62% support sweeping health reform

	Source: The Diageo

	Source: Americans United for Change

A poll for the political website The Hotline, conducted this month, finds that 62 percent of registered voters support "a major overhaul of the U.S. health system."

Similarly, a poll for the Kaiser Family Foundation found 61 percent believe "it is more important than ever to take on health reform now."

The findings are being used in a new pro-reform political ad by the group Americans United for Change, a coalition of labor and progressive organizations.

Support for reform was strong across all age and income groups in the Hotline poll.  There was, however, considerable variation by party affiliation. Reform was backed by 87 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independent voters, but only by 35 percent of Republicans.

While supportive of health reform, voters don't want their health benefits taxed to pay for it.  The Hotline poll found 68 percent of voters opposed to taxing health benefits, with only 26 percent in support.  Among Republicans, the opposition to taxing benefits was even higher than among Democrats and independents, with 79 percent of Republicans (roughly four of five) opposed.

And the Kaiser poll found support for other CWA priorities in reform: 69 percent believe employers should be required to offer health insurance or pay into a fund for coverage.  And about two-thirds support a public health insurance plan, similar to Medicare for people under 65, to be offered as an alternative to private insurance companies.  

The findings of strong support for reform are consistent with polls taken before last fall's election, which also found a strong consensus that the health system needs to be fixed.