Poll: Massachusetts health insurance mandate gaining popularity Posted: June 6th, 2011

While a federal health insurance mandate is still two years away, residents of Massachusetts have been required to have medical coverage since 2006. A poll conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and The Boston Globe found that the majority of state residents support the mandate, although opinions are mixed whether it should be a model for federal health reform.

Conducted in May, the poll found that 63 percent of Massachusetts residents support state health reform legislation while 51 percent support the individual health insurance mandate. Support for the law was greatest among Democrats with 70 percent indicating their approval compared to 40 percent of Republicans. Overall support of the law has increased 10 percent since 2009.

Despite support of the 2006 law, Massachusetts residents are split regarding its use as a model for federal health reform. Only 43 percent of residents supported its use as a national model.