Survey: Most favor public option for healthcare

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In a survey earlier this week, 56% of Americans polled said they were in favor of a public option for healthcare insurance.

The poll was conducted by CNN and Opinion Research Corp. from Nov. 13 to 15. The result was the same that CNN found at the end of August, as the public option was becoming the most controversial aspect of the proposed healthcare legislation.

The question posed was: ‘Now thinking specifically about the health insurance plans available to most Americans, would you favor or oppose creating a public health insurance option administered by the federal government that would compete with plans offered by private health insurance companies?’’

Fifty-six percent said yes.

The House has narrowly (220-215) approved a healthcare bill with a public option, and Senate leaders are advancing one with a public option that states could opt out of. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they oppose allowing states to prevent people from taking part in a public option if the government has one.

The survey of 1,014 adults, including 928 registered voters, carries a possible margin or error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The Gallup Poll recently found softer support for a public option: 50%.

-- Mark Silva