A new poll shows Utahns overwhelmingly support Gov. Gary Herbert’s Healthy Utah Medicaid expansion alternative.
The poll from a coalition of community groups shows 88% of Utahns favor the Healthy Utah plan pushed by Herbert if the alternative were to do nothing.
When weighed against full Medicaid expansion, 70% of Utahns favor the Healthy Utah plan while just 30% say they would like to take full expansion from the feds.
Herbert has been negotiating with federal officials about his plan to use federal Medicaid expansion money as a sort of block grant to cover those left without coverage as part of the Affordable Care Act.
The poll also found found 59% of Utahns either support or strongly support Herbert’s Healthy Utah option.
Utah lawmakers have said they would rather wait until the 2015 Legislative session to make any decision on Medicaid expansion.Â
They may have a harder time explaining that to their constituents as the poll finds broad support for Herbert’s plan across ideological lines – especially among Republicans.
Other findings from the poll:
- 83% say “all legal Utah residents should have access to affordable health insurance.”
- 72% support taking back money they are already paying to the federal government.
