Three-quarters of self-described Democrats support the idea of a single-payer system, compared to less than 20 percent of Republicans. (Photo: Shutterstock)
A new poll finds that a narrow majority of Americans support the idea of a single-payer health care system.
The survey of 1,850 adults, conducted by the Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that 51 percent favored switching to a government-run health care system similar to what currently exists in most other western countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom and France, while 43 percent were opposed.
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The poll asked respondents, "Do you support or oppose having a national health plan — or a single-payer plan — in which all Americans would get their insurance from a single government plan?"
Three-quarters of self-described Democrats support the idea, compared to less than 20 percent of Republicans. Among independents, 54 percent support it and 40 percent are opposed.
The poll found only a slightly higher level of support for a much less radical approach to health care expansion: the Affordable Care Act. Fifty-three percent say they favor the ACA while 41 percent are opposed.
Obviously, single-payer is a political non-starter for likely many years. Although President Trump has at times in his life expressed admiration for a Canadian-style system, since becoming president he has clearly sided with other Republicans in trying to reduce the role of government in health care.
The high level of support for single-payer instead suggests that single-payer is an idea that Democrats will have to take seriously when (and if) they return to power.
Until recently, few elected officials talked openly about the concept of single-payer, but the idea has picked up steam since Bernie Sanders' presidential candidacy and Democratic candidates increasingly feel pressure from the progressive base of their party to endorse "Medicare-for-All."
The poll did not try to see whether people would change their mind based on the most common arguments for or against single-payer. Other polls in the past have found that a significant portion of those who endorse the concept of single-payer back away from it when presented with arguments about increased taxes and government control over health care.
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