New Poll Shows Florida Voters Trust Democrats on Healthcare, Overwhelmingly Want to Expand Medicaid

October 18, 2018For Immediate Release:Caroline Rowland, caroline@floridadems.org New Poll Shows Florida Voters Trust Democrats on Healthcare, Overwhelmingly Want to Expand Medicaid Coverage  A new poll from the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that health care continues to be the top priority for Florida voters, and that voters trust Democrats over Republicans on the issue, reports the Tampa Bay Times.  The difference between Florida Republicans and Democrats couldn't be more clear in 2018, with Republicans pushing to end the ACA and protections for people with pre-existing coverage and continuing to deny the expansion of Medicaid to nearly 800,000 Floridians. Highlights from the poll:

•  "59 percent of Floridians want to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income people, and 34 percent want to keep it as it is today."

• "44 percent of registered voters said they would be more likely to support a candidate who will protect the Affordable Care Act, and 38 percent said they would be more likely to back a candidate wanting to repeal it."

• "43 percent of Florida voters support passing a national health plan — "Medicare-for-all" — and 33 percent oppose it."

• "69 percent would be more likely to support a candidate who wants to maintain protections for pre-existing conditions, and 55 percent of residents said they had a family member with a pre-existing condition."

• "The poll also showed 3-point and 8-point leads for Democrats Bill Nelson and Andrew Gillum respectively, though the survey concluded on Oct. 2."