---
title: "Socialized Medicine [for Seniors] Still Popular"
description: "A majority of Americans oppose replacing Medicare with a voucher system to buy private insurance."
date: "2010-09-29"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2010/09/29/socialized-medicine-for-seniors-still-popular/"
---

# Socialized Medicine [for Seniors] Still Popular

A 45%-plurality opposes the recently passed health care legislation, but it’s difficult to say Americans fear socialized medicine when so many are against making changes to Medicare. A 52%-majority opposes replacing Medicare with a voucher system to buy private insurance; just a third (33%) favor such a proposal. Despite it being a GOP proposal, a plurality of Republicans (47%) oppose the idea, as do a majority of Democrats (54%) and independents (52%). Older Americans are the most likely to demand the government keep their hands off Medicare; adults ages 65 and older oppose replacing Medicare with a voucher system by a 69%-to-14% margin. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1726/poll-social-security-medicare-republican-plans-bush-tax-cuts-gop-leader)