POLL: Near-universal support for Medicaid work requirements bolster Republicans in reconciliation fight

THE LOWDOWN:

• Democrats and their allies in the media, however, have been trying to use Republicans’ plans to reform Medicaid against them. However, polling suggests that Republicans, even in potentially competitive districts, are on firm political ground.

• In a warning sign for Democrats, only 34 percent of voters surveyed agreed with Paragon’s categorization of the policy favored by many elected Democrats.

• Despite the polling advantage that Republicans have on Medicaid work requirements, liberal reporters are working hand-in-glove with Democrats to try and sink the GOP on this issue.

• Rep. Gabe Evans (R., Colo.), who faces a divisive Democratic primary to take him on next year, represents a district where Paragon’s polling found that 65 percent of voters, including a whopping 68 percent of independent voters, support “making Medicaid eligibility for able-bodied adults with no young children at home contingent on working, training, or volunteering at least 20 hours per week.”

After months of drama, House Republicans narrowly passed the first version of the Big, Beautiful Bill.

The signature piece of legislation that Republicans will use to secure legislative wins on everything from tax cuts to health care made it through the House after much deliberation.

Democrats and their allies in the media, however, have been trying to use Republicans’ plans to reform Medicaid against them. However, polling suggests that Republicans, even in potentially competitive districts, are on firm political ground.

A nationwide survey from Paragon Health Institute, which interviewed 1,000 registered voters, found that majorities of voters want “government policies [to] encourage more private health insurance coverage.”

“Congress [to] focus on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in federal health care programs,” and for the government to make “reforms to federal government health care programs to ensure they can best meet the needs of Americans now and in the future,” the survey said.

In a warning sign for Democrats, only 34 percent of voters surveyed agreed with Paragon’s categorization of the policy favored by many elected Democrats.

“Congress must not make cuts to any federal health care program. These programs are very important to many vulnerable and needy people. We cannot risk them not getting the care they need. Instead, we should expand federal health care programs and spend more on them.”

Democrats are also on the wrong side of polling on issues like work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Eighty-four percent of respondents support “allowing states to implement a work requirement for able-bodied adult Medicaid recipients in their state.”

This policy is a top priority for Republicans in Congress, who see that, combined with a prohibition on illegal immigrants receiving Medicaid, as a key means for reducing Medicaid costs, while ensuring that the program will remain in place for Americans who need it.

Despite the polling advantage that Republicans have on Medicaid work requirements, liberal reporters are working hand-in-glove with Democrats to try and sink the GOP on this issue.

Rep. Gabe Evans (R., Colo.), who faces a divisive Democratic primary to take him on next year, represents a district where Paragon’s polling found that 65 percent of voters, including a whopping 68 percent of independent voters, support “making Medicaid eligibility for able-bodied adults with no young children at home contingent on working, training, or volunteering at least 20 hours per week.”