Healthcare Polls

Latest healthcare polling data shows that most Americans are still confused about the health reform proposals. The president's approval rating for handling health care is up seven points from one month ago, and more Americans overall support his plans than oppose them - but four in 10 say they still don't know enough about the proposals.

As many as 59 percent of Americans say they are confused by the current health care reform proposals, while just 37 percent say they understand them. Correspondingly, only 32 percent of Americans say Mr. Obama has clearly explained his plans for health care reform, and 62 percent say he has not.

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Sept. 19-23, 2009. N=1,042 adults nationwide
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care?
		Approve	Disapprove	Unsure
		%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	47	45	8
	8/27-31/09	40	47	13
	7/24-28/09	46	38	16
	7/9-12/09	49	37	14
	6/12-16/09	44	34	22
"Which of the following three statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of the health care system in the United States? (1) On the whole, the health care system works pretty well and only minor changes are necessary to make it work better. OR, (2) There are some good things in our health care system, but fundamental changes are needed. OR, (3) Our health care system has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it."
		Minor Changes	Fundamental Changes	Completely Rebuild	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	19	51	27	3
	8/27-31/09	17	55	27	1
	7/24-28/09	16	49	33	2
	6/12-16/09	13	51	34	2
	4/22-26/09	12	49	38	1
	9/12-16/08	14	50	35	1
	1/20-25/06	8	56	34	2
"Are you generally satisfied or dissatisfied with the quality of the health care you receive? Would you say you are very satisfied/dissatisfied or somewhat satisfied/dissatisfied?"
		Very Satisfied	Somewhat Satisfied	Somewhat Dissatisfied	Very Dissatisfied	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	41	37	10	8	4
"Regardless of how you usually vote, who do you think has better ideas about reforming the health care system: Barack Obama, or the Republicans in Congress?"
		Barack Obama	Republicans in Congress	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	52	27	2	11	8
	8/27-31/09	50	23	1	13	13
	7/24-28/09	55	26	1	7	11
"Do you think you understand the health care reforms under consideration in Congress, or are they confusing to you?"
		Understand	Confusing	Unsure
		%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	37	59	4
	8/27-31/09	31	67	2
"Do you mostly support or mostly oppose the changes to the health care system proposed by Barack Obama, or don't you know enough about them yet to say?"
		Mostly Support	Mostly Oppose	Don't Know Enough	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	30	23	46	1
"Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government-administered health insurance plan -- something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get -- that would compete with private health insurance plans?"
		Favor	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	65	26	9
	8/27-31/09	60	34	6
	7/24-28/09	66	27	7
	7/9-12/09	64	29	7
	6/12-16/09	72	20	8
"What if changes to the health care system do not include the option of a government-administered health insurance plan? In that case, would you favor or oppose the changes under consideration?"
		Favor	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	9/19-23/09	38	40	22