A mandate that individuals obtain health insurance or risk a fine is less palatable to Americans than an approach where individuals, employers, government, and insurers share in the responsibility of achieving universal health coverage, according to the study “Will Americans Support the Individual Mandate?” published in Health Affairs. After surveying 1,704 adults, the authors report that 48% of the public supports the stand-alone individual mandate, whereas 59% endorsed a shared responsibility for universal coverage. The individual mandate was favored by 56% of respondents who described themselves as Democrats but by only 36% of Republicans. In addition, two-thirds of those with less than a high school degree supported the individual mandate in contrast to 38% with some college. The reasons respondents gave for opposing the individual mandate included a likelihood of higher taxes, dislike of government-run health care, fear that the premiums would be unaffordable, or the principle that government should not require citizens to buy insurance. The authors advice policymakers to take note that the individual mandate receives majority support only when combined with the requirement that employers provide insurance to all workers or pay a fine, that government health insurance programs be expanded, and that insurers be prohibited from denying individuals coverage.
