HEALTH PLAN POPULAR POLL SHOWS SUPPORT FOR ARNOLD'S PROPOSAL.

Byline: STEVE GEISSINGER Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO -- Californians soundly approve of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed ``universal'' health care plan, even if it means a tax hike, but many do not think children of illegal immigrants should be included, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 65 percent of likely voters support the Republican governor's proposal, which will be weighed together with plans by the Legislature's dominant Democrats.

Schwarzenegger's proposal would require all Californians to have health insurance, with costs shared by employers, health-care providers and individuals.

The independent institute found 79 percent of Californians and 72 percent of likely voters say they also favor Schwarzenegger's goal of guaranteeing medical coverage for children in low-income families.

``But support for this proposal drops substantially when residents are asked about providing medical coverage to lower-income children, regardless of their immigration status,'' poll director Mark Baldassare said in the survey.

The poll found that while 56 percent of residents still approve of the plan, opposition rose to 40 percent.

Overall, Californians gave Schwarzenegger and President George W. Bush low marks on the current health care system, plagued by growing costs and shrinking availability.

And the majority of residents said they believe both the federal and state governments are spending too little on health care.

Californians prefer universal health-care insurance to the current system, in which most people are covered through their employer or purchase coverage privately.

``And they are willing to ante up to get it,'' Baldassare said.

Six in 10 adults, or 63 percent -- and 59 percent of likely voters -- say they favor a universal system, even if it means raising taxes.

sgeissinger(at)angnews.com

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