Most voters favor abortion ban for federally subsidized health plans

Washington D.C., Jan 5, 2010 / 20:22 pm

A new national telephone survey reports that a majority of American voters favor a ban on abortion coverage in federally subsidized health insurance plans, with 39 percent saying they strongly favor it.

About 53 percent of American voters surveyed by Rasmussen Reports said that they support the ban. Another 40 percent said they were opposed, with 26 percent saying they were strongly opposed.

A slight majority of those who strongly support the proposed health care plan were opposed to the provision on abortion funding, while 65 percent of those who strongly oppose the overall plan favor the provision.

Thirteen percent of respondents said they wanted mandatory coverage of abortion.

Overall, about 39 percent of Americans surveyed by Rasmussen support the health care legislation.

The Rasmussen Reports survey, whose results were released on Jan. 3, focused on abortion in federally subsidized insurance plans.

Opposition to direct government funding of abortion is reportedly stronger. A Dec. 22 Quinnipiac University survey said that 72 percent of Americans oppose public funding of abortion in health care legislation.