Poll Finds Many Americans Not Ready to Give Up on Medicaid
Public attitudes toward Medicaid are remarkably positive,
and opposition to cuts is reasonably strong, according to a new public opinion
survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
While two-thirds of those surveyed think their state has major
budget problems, a substantial majority is reluctant to cut Medicaid to
balance state budgets, and most think the federal government should maintain
(44%) or increase (36%) federal spending on Medicaid. Only 12% said they
would prefer federal funding of Medicaid be cut.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) of adults surveyed said Medicaid
is a "very important" government program, ranking it equally with
federal aid to public schools. About 82% of Democrats and 79% of Independents
said Medicaid is an important government program. Even 61% of Republicans
express the same view.
A majority of Americans (56%) reports having some interaction
with Medicaid, either having been enrolled themselves at some point or knowing
a friend or family member who has received health coverage or long-term
care assistance through the program. Additionally, if they needed health
care and were eligible, 78% of those polled said they would enroll in Medicaid."
We expected Medicaid to be relatively unpopular with the public,
much like welfare was. But we found that Medicaid ranks closer to popular
programs like Medicare and Social Security in the public's mind. The fact
that so many Americans have had some kind of contact with Medicaid themselves
or through family and friends is one factor that could help explain this
result," said Mollyann Brodie, Ph.D., Vice President and Director of
Public Opinion and Media Research for the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Source: U.S. Newswire, 6-29-05
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