WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new poll has put covering all children at the top of the public’s priorities for Congressional health care reform efforts.

The national survey gauged public support for ten leading provisions being discussed as part of a final health reform bill. The results find that, while all ten reform elements tested remain popular, “a provision that ensures all children have health care coverage” was the most popular with 89 percent of those surveyed supporting and 75 percent indicating strong support. This garnered more support than tax credits for small businesses (88% total support), opportunities for young adults up to age 26 to continue coverage on their parents’ health plan (82%), a prohibition on coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions (73%), and the establishment of a health insurance exchange (80%), among others.

“Time after time, we have seen the public unified in their belief that all children should have health care. In the midst of a much needed national debate over health reform, Americans are unwavering in their support of such a goal,” said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. “This survey finds that many of the provisions that are addressed by comprehensive reform are immensely popular with the American public. However, no concept enjoys such widespread support as covering all children, which has an astounding 89-10% favorability. Indeed, covering children should be a first priority of Congress for this legislation.”

The telephone survey was commissioned by First Focus and conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, using a national probability sample of 1,013 adults comprising 510 men and 503 women. The survey was completed during the period of January 28-31, 2010. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3%.

“This research confirms that Congress has been on the right track in its fight to secure health care for the American people. It’s too bad that the focus on partisan bickering has kept the public from knowing that we are working to enact exactly what they support,” said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. “At this critical time, when Americans are discouraged about our progress, I applaud First Focus for spotlighting the needs of children and hope that Congress will rally to guarantee affordable, accessible, high quality health care to all of America’s children.”

Advocates and Members of Congress have pressed lawmakers to build on the success of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and finish the job of covering all children as a key component of health reform.

The poll found support for the following:

  1. A provision that ensures all children have health care coverage: 89% overall support (75% strongly support)
  2. Tax credits to small businesses to help them defray the cost of providing health benefits to workers: 88% overall support (62% strongly support)
  3. Insurance market reforms that offer an opportunity for young adults up to age 26 to continue coverage on their parents’ plan: 82% overall support (51% strongly support)
  4. Funding to states to establish a marketplace, known as an “insurance exchange,” where consumers and small business could buy health care coverage: 80% overall support (47% strongly support)
  5. Insurance market reforms that would stop insurers from charging women more than men: 78% overall support (62% strongly support)
  6. Changes to Medicare that would reduce growth in payments to doctors and hospitals while rewarding those who provide high-quality, lower-cost care: 74% overall support (44% strongly support)
  7. Insurance market reforms that prohibit insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions: 73% overall support (55% strongly support)
  8. Incentives for states to expand Medicaid to cover childless adults and parents: 71% overall support (42% strongly support)
  9. Insurance market reforms that prohibit health plans from charging patients more for going outside their network in an emergency: 70% overall support (52% strongly support)
  10. Changes to Medicare that would narrow a gap in Medicare coverage of prescription drugs, sometimes known as the “doughnut hole”: 67% overall support (41% strongly support)