Axios-Ipsos poll: two-thirds want government action on health costs, 43% back Medicare for All
An Axios-Ipsos poll found about two-thirds of Americans want the government to spend more to cut health care costs, but only 43% back Medicare for All. Right-leaning outlets used the result to argue the single-payer idea is less popular than advocates claim.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1An Axios-Ipsos poll released on Tuesday 13 October found that two-thirds of Americans, including half of Republicans, want the government to spend more to reduce health care costs. New York PostR “Two-thirds of Americans, including half of Republicans, say they want the government to spend more money to reduce health care costs” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1On the specific policy, 43% said they want Medicare for All, a single-payer system run by the US government; 24% opposed it and 32% were unsure, according to the New York Post's account of the poll. New York PostR “only 43% want Medicare for All”“nearly a quarter (24%) oppose universal Medicare, while almost a third (32%) say they aren’t sure” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Support was 62% among Democrats and 47% among independents. New York PostR “the move is popular with 62% of Democrats”“Nearly half (47%) of independents also said they supported the idea” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Respondents who opposed Medicare for All said they feared worse care than private insurance, higher costs to taxpayers, or a larger government. New York PostR “Opponents of Medicare for All said they fear a worse quality of care than private insurance” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Many respondents said they would be more likely to back a congressional candidate who favored expanding health care subsidies, reinstating the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired in 2026, or expanding prescription drug discount platforms. Republicans were split on expanding subsidies: 31% more likely to back such a candidate, 29% less likely and 31% saying it made no difference. New York PostR “reinstating enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired in 2026”“31% more likely to back a candidate who supports the idea, 29% less likely, and 31% saying it would make no difference” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The survey also recorded record-low trust in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (25%), congressional Democrats (25%), congressional Republicans (20%) and President Trump as a source of health information (20%), ahead of next month's midterm elections. New York PostR “whose level of trust is now at a record low of 25%”“trust in President Trump for health-related information also fell to a record low of 20%” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1The Post cited context for the cost concern: Kaiser Family Foundation data showing insurance premiums up 27% since 2020, and a December 2025 Gallup study in which 29% named health care cost the most urgent health problem, up from 23% a year earlier and the highest since 2004. New York PostR “Insurance premiums are up 27% since 2020, according to Kaiser Family Foundation data.”“That represented a rise from 23% just a year earlier, and was the highest level recorded since 2004.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Mark Washawsky of the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank, told the Post that people are justifiably angry about costs but are not aware in such surveys of the high taxes, care restrictions and slower innovation that Medicare for All would bring. Washawsky favored more competition in the sector while ensuring everyone is covered and supporting those in financial need. New York PostR “they are not aware of the extremely high taxes, restrictions on care, slowing of innovation, and political rent-seeking that will result if Medicare for all is adopted”“A better way is to introduce effective competition into the sector, while making sure everyone is covered and supporting those most in financial need” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1In a Washington Examiner opinion column two days later, David Harsanyi argued that Medicare for All is popular only when its nature is misrepresented, saying a single-payer system can work only by compelling everyone to take part. Washington ExaminerR “Progressives are endlessly telling us how much Americans love the idea of socializing the healthcare insurance system. Which is only true if you lie to them about it.”“A single-payer system, after all, can work only if you compel everyone to be part of the “all.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the poll as evidence that Americans want cost relief but are sceptical of single-payer. The Post leads with the 43% figure and a conservative think-tank critique; the Examiner column argues support rests on misleading descriptions.
- Emphasis
- Limited support for Medicare for All, the claim that respondents don't understand its costs, record-low trust in political figures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The coverage does not include the poll's methodology or sample size, and no supporters of Medicare for All are quoted. The Post notes that 62% of Democrats back the idea but quotes only a critic.
- Charged language
- “socialized healthcare system”“lie to them about it”“isn’t it”
- For example
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“Two-thirds of Americans want government help with surging health care costs — but ‘Medicare for All’ isn’t it” — New York Post
“Which is only true if you lie to them about it.” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Both outlets frame Medicare for All as less popular than its advocates suggest.
- Majority-level public concern about health care costs is not in dispute in the coverage.
Where accounts differ
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Whether public support for Medicare for All is genuine
- Right
- The New York Post stresses that only 43% back it and many are unsure; the Washington Examiner column says it is popular only when people are misled about it.
Medicare for All topic
Presented by both outlets as a policy that draws only minority support and would bring higher taxes and compulsory participation, though a majority of Democrats back it.
“only 43% want Medicare for All” — New York Post
“A single-payer system, after all, can work only if you compel everyone to be part of the “all.”” — Washington Examiner
Axios-Ipsos organisation
Its poll, released Tuesday, is the source of the figures on health cost concern, Medicare for All support and record-low trust.
“polling released on Tuesday by Axios-Ipsos shows” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Mixed News report that leads with the limited 43% support for Medicare for All and relies on a conservative think-tank voice, while also reporting the broad demand for cost relief.
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Washington ExaminerR · · Opinion
‘Medicare for all’ is popular only when you lie about it
Critical Opinion column arguing that Medicare for All's popularity depends on misleading descriptions and that single-payer requires compulsion.
- 14 Oct 12:30 First New York PostR Two-thirds of Americans want government help with surging health care costs — but ‘Medicare for All’ isn’t it
- 16 Oct 19:20 +54h 50m Washington ExaminerR ‘Medicare for all’ is popular only when you lie about it Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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