N.C. residents split on health care reform

ELON, N.C. (AP) - Three out of four North Carolina residents believe the U.S. health care system needs reform, but they are split on whether the reform should include a public option, according to a poll released Monday by Elon University.

The poll showed that 76.6 percent of respondents believe the health care system needs reform, with 16.4 percent saying the system is fine as is. Another 5.3 percent say something needs to be done but not by the government.

It also shows that 54 percent of residents support a public option. But the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, meaning residents could be split evenly.

"Obvious from these results is that citizens recognize that the health system is in need of reform, but, like most Americans, are divided over how to do it," said Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon University Poll.

Forty-one percent said they would use a public option plan.

The poll was conducted Oct. 26-29 and surveyed 703 North Carolina residents.

In a little more than a year, the number of residents who have some form of private health care coverage has dropped. Seventy-three percent said in this year's poll that they have private insurance compared to 83 percent in a September 2008 poll.