HARTFORD – A new poll conducted by the Yankee Institute for Public Policy shows that Connecticut residents oppose the national health care overhaul  being debated in Congress.

• Connecticut residents oppose the current bills in Congress by a margin of 51-34 percent
• By a margin of 62-29 percent, Connecticut residents believe Congress has rushed the process and should take more time to get it right
• More than three-quarters of voters, 77 percent, say they are very concerned or somewhat concerned that changes in health care will result in more government spending, higher taxes, and a bigger budget deficit.  61% described theselves as “very concerned” about these possibilities
• Half of state residents say the changes to health care being considered will do more harm than good
• By a nearly 2:1 margin, Connecticut residents say Congress in being too ambitious.  They favor smaller, more incremental reforms to a major overhaul
• Residents are also concerned about proposed expansions to Medicaid to be paid for by state taxpayers.  Residents oppose expanding Medicaid by a margin of 49-26%. 

In terms of how to pay for health care changes:

• A large majority of residents oppose taxing health insurance, 77 to 9 percent.  We didn’t distinguish between so-called “Cadillac” plans and other insurance plans, but voters seem to recognize that taxing insurance policies just drives up premiums and costs
• A large majority also oppose taxing people who don’t have insurance, by 59-27 percent.  This is the so-called “individual mandate”.
• Residents also oppose taxing businesses that don’t offer health care, 44-31 percent.  This is another mandate.

Methodology: This poll was conducted on January 12th and 13th using automated phone dial technology.  A total of 1,526 residents completed the survey, resulting in a margin of error of 2.5 percent. 

• released a poll today showing that Connecticut residents are very skeptical of the health care reform efforts currently under consideration by the U.S. Congress.

Download the full results of the poll here!