CNN/Opinion Research Survey on Health Care Reform

What do you think Congress should do on health care — pass a health care bill similar to the legislation that Congress has been working on for the past year, start work on an entirely new bill, or stop working on any bills that would change the country’s health care system?

• Pass similar bill 25% [30%]
• Start work on new bill 48% [48%]
• Stop working on health care 25% [21%]

Now here are a few provisions that the U.S. House and Senate might consider. Please tell me whether you favor or oppose each one.

Requiring all Americans who do not have health insurance to get it

• Favor 45% (49%)
• Oppose 53% (49%)

Requiring all large and mid-sized businesses to provide health insurance for their employees

• Favor 72% (73%)
• Oppose 27% (25%)

Preventing health insurance companies from dropping coverage for people who become seriously ill

• Favor 62% (60%)
• Oppose 38% (39%)

Preventing health insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions

• Favor 58% (60%)
• Oppose 42% (40%)

Limiting the amount of money that patients can get if they win a medical malpractice lawsuit

• Favor 66%
• Oppose 33%

Creating a public health insurance option administered by the federal government that would compete with plans offered by private companies

• Favor 51%
• Oppose 48%

In your view, is Barack Obama doing enough to cooperate with the Republicans in Congress, or not?

• Yes, doing enough 47%
• No, not enough 52%

In your view, are the Republicans in Congress doing enough to cooperate with the Barack Obama, or not?

• Yes, doing enough 31%
• No, not enough 67%

Do you think the Democratic party or the Republican party is more responsible for the lack of cooperation between the two parties in Washington?

• Republican Party 37%
• Democratic Party 35%
• Both (vol.) 25%

Many people say that bipartisan cooperation will only occur if one party takes the first step by giving up some of the proposals it supports. Which party do you think should take the first step toward developing bipartisan solutions to the country’s problems — the Democratic party or the
Republican party?

• Democratic Party 54%
• Republican Party 42%

If the two parties can develop bipartisan solutions to the country’s problems, which party do you think should give up more of the proposals it supports — the Democratic party or the Republican party?

• Democratic Party 51%
• Republican Party 43%

Survey of 1,023 adults, including 954 registered voters, was conducted February 12-15, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 22-24, 2010 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted November 13-15, 2009 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

The survey indicates nearly half of all Democrats say Congress should pass legislation similar to the bills passed by both chambers, with nearly 4 in 10 Democrats saying Congress should start from scratch and just 1 in 10 saying lawmakers should stop all work on health care.

A majority of Republicans questioned, 54 percent, want Congress to start from scratch, with just under 4 in 10 saying lawmakers should halt work on health care reform and just 6 percent saying Congress should pass into law the current legislation.

Fifty-two percent of Independents want Congress to start work on a new bill, with 27 percent saying lawmakers should stop all work, and 18 percent saying that the current legislation should be passed into law.

**PROGRAMMING NOTE**

Click here to watch C-SPAN 3′s live coverage of today’s health care summit.