Antigovernment sentiment and support for universal access to care: are they incompatible?

Attitudes toward universal access to medical care were examined to determine whether support for it among people opposed to government involvement in health care was modified by three proxy measures of self-interest: being uninsured, in poor health, or a high user of medical care. Data on support for universal access, attitudes toward government involvement in health care, and the indicators of self-interest were obtained from a representative sample of adult Oklahomans (n = 1547) surveyed between October 1992 and December 1994. Forced-order multiple regression with interaction terms was the data analysis technique. People opposed to government involvement in health care were found to be less likely to favor universal access to medical care, but poor health, lack of insurance, and high usage of medical care moderated this effect. The findings support the view that antigovernment sentiment need not foreclose the public option for health policymakers. Other considerations such as self-interest may modify the effect of unfavorable attitudes toward government.