New Monmouth poll shows primary voters confused about public option vs Medicare For All [View all]

[highplainsdem]

I've seen this in some other polls, but this one really highlights it.

Democratic voters GREATLY prefer the public option to Medicare For All when the differences are spelled out at all in the question.

But when the question is only about MFA, apparently most voters like that because they assume it means "Medicare for all who want it," or the public option.

https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/monmouthpoll_US_082619/

16. How important is it to you that the Democrats nominate someone who supports Medicare for All – very important, somewhat important, not important, or are you not sure?
Aug. 2019
Very important 58%
Somewhat important 23%
Not important 10%
Not sure 9%
(n) (298)



17. Which of the following comes closest to how you would like to see health care handled: A. get rid of all private insurance coverage in favor of having everyone on a single public plan like Medicare for All, B. allow people to either opt into Medicare or keep their private coverage, C. keep health insurance private for people under age 65 but regulate the costs, or D. keep the health insurance system basically as it is?
Aug. 2019
A. Get rid of all private insurance coverage in favor of … Medicare for All 22%
B. Allow people to either opt into Medicare or keep their private coverage 53%
C. Keep health insurance private for people under age 65 but regulate the costs 7%
D. Keep the health insurance system basically as it is 11%
(VOL) Other 2%
(VOL) Don’t know 4%
(n) (298)



17A. [If “B. ALLOW PEOPLE TO OPT INTO MEDICARE OR KEEP THEIR PRIVATE COVERAGE” in Q17, ASK:] Would you eventually like to see the nation’s health care coverage move to a universal public system like Medicare for All or do you think there should always be a choice to keep your private coverage? [Percentages are based on the total sample of Democrats.]
Aug. 2019
Medicare for All now (from Q17) 22%
Public option: Eventually move to a universal public system like Medicare for All 18%
Public option: Should always be a choice to keep your private coverage 33%
Public option: Don’t know what should eventually happen 2%
Minor, none, other changes to health insurance (from Q17) 21%
(VOL) Don’t know (from Q17) 4%
(n) (298)

What this means is that Warren and Sanders are benefiting greatly from voter confusion.

Only 22% of Democratic primary voters actually favor Medicare For All.

53% favor a public option.


This is a point the Biden campaign needs to make more clearly.