- More than half (52%) of college students say they are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports Medicare for All.
- A majority of students (71%) believe the government should ensure that all Americans have health care coverage.
- Seven in 10 (70%) students say the American health care system is worse than other industrialized nations. While 88% of Democrats and 69% of Independents say the American system is worse, only 23% of Republicans agree.
Two out of three front-runners for the Democratic presidential nomination have called for the United States to adopt a government-run health insurance plan for all Americans, often called Medicare for All. Although most college students have health insurance coverage through their parents’ plans, the majority believe the government is responsible for ensuring all Americans have health coverage.
A new survey of 1,500 undergraduates finds that more than half (52%) say they would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who was a strong supporter of Medicare for All. Almost 3 in 10 (28%) say they would be less likely to vote for a supporter of Medicare for All, and 19% say it would not make any difference.
Democrats in particular favor candidates who back a single government-run health care program. Almost three-quarters (74%) of Democratic students would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who was a strong supporter of Medicare for All. Only about 1 in 10 say they would be less likely (11%) or that it would not make any difference (13%).
Three-Quarters of Democrats Want a Presidential Candidate Who Supports Medicare For All
Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a presidential candidate who was a strong supporter of Medicare for All?
Overall, more than two-thirds (67%) of college students say they favor a national health care plan in which all Americans would get their health insurance from a single government plan. But when asked how America’s system should work more specifically, almost half (49%) of students say health insurance should continue to be provided through a mix of private insurance companies and public programs. More than 4 in 10 (42%) say it should be provided through a single national health insurance system run by the government, and 7% say it should be provided only through private insurance companies for people under 65.
College students are more likely than the general public to say health care coverage is a government responsibility. More than 7 in 10 (71%) students believe it’s the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have coverage. By comparison, a 2018 Pew Research survey found that 6 in 10 (60%) adults agree.
A majority of students (70%) also say the American health care system is worse than other industrialized countries, such as Germany, Canada, and France. Almost 1 in 5 (17%) say the American system is better than other wealthy countries, and 11% say it’s about the same. Democrats and Republicans have divergent views, however. While almost 9 in 10 Democrats (88%) and 7 in 10 Independents (69%) say the American health care system is worse than other countries, more than half (53%) of Republicans say it’s better.
There’s a significant gender divide when it comes to students’ views on health care. Female students are more likely than male students to support the U.S. adopting a national health care plan like Medicare for All (71% vs. 60%), perhaps because studies show that women generally use more health care services than men. Similarly, female students are far more likely than male students to say American health care is worse than other industrialized countries (79% vs. 57%).
Female Students are More Likely to Favor Medicare For All
Percent of students who…
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 1,500 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
