Schwarzenegger Administration Says Recent Polling Demonstrates Overwhelming Public Support for Comprehensive Health Care Reform

06/28/2007 -- Two recent polls by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) and the Kaiser Family Foundation demonstrate strong public support for comprehensive health care reform.

According to a survey of California residents, 72% support the California Governor’s comprehensive health care proposal to have all sectors - individuals, government, doctors and hospitals, insurers and employers - share in the responsibility of fixing our broken health care system. More than half of the Kaiser Family Foundation poll respondents say they support a Massachusetts law for an individual mandate, which requires every resident to obtain health care coverage. 90% of respondents said a major reason of support of the individual mandate is because they believe “it is the right thing to do.” Additionally, they believe having all residents insured will help keep health care costs down.

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“These polls underscore the public clamor to fix our broken health care system. The PPIC poll also reveals the real fear that ‘worried well’ Californians have about covering their bills if they or a loved one were to become sick, as well as the concerns about losing coverage and rising health care costs. This groundswell of public support will help carry the momentum for the Governor and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to achieve meaningful reform this year,” said Adam Mendelsohn, Governor Schwarzenegger’s deputy chief of staff for communications.

“The Governor put forward a very bold, comprehensive plan to fix our state's broken health care system because he believes that the status quo is simply unacceptable and unsustainable,” said Kim Belshé, California Health and Human Services Secretary. “This is not someone else's problem - we all share this problem. The Governor's plan is intended to eliminate the hidden tax associated with the shifting of costs from the uninsured to the insured, achieve coverage for all and promote a healthier California.”

More information about the Kaiser Family Foundation survey can be found at http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/pomr062707pkg.cfm. The Public Policy Institute of California survey is posted at http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=757.

Source: California Governor