New Poll: Michigan voters broadly agree Medicaid matters, health care costs must come down
Healthier United survey finds 91% of voters call Medicaid important to their community, including 86% of Republicans, as federal cuts under H.R. 1 reach Michigan
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan voters may be sharply divided on candidates this fall, but a new statewide survey from Healthier United finds strong agreement on the health care issues facing their families. More than 90% of voters say Medicaid is important to health care access in their community, over 75% say making health insurance premiums affordable should be a top priority for state leaders, and large majorities want action on youth mental health and maternity care in rural Michigan.
“No matter who wins this contentious election, voters of all political stripes want the victors to tackle health care affordability, protect our Medicaid system, support pregnant mothers and address our youth mental health crisis. There is a clear bipartisan agenda,” said Healthier United CEO Jake Williams.
Survey Insights
Medicaid: near-unanimous, bipartisan support
91% of Michigan voters say Medicaid is important in helping provide access to health care in their community, with 67% calling it “very important.” That support crosses party lines: 86% of Republicans and 97% of Democrats agree. Only 7% say the program is not important. The findings come as Michigan begins to absorb reductions to Medicaid enacted in H.R. 1, the federal budget reconciliation law.
While the concept of "Medicare for All" draws 60% support to 34% opposition overall, the policy also has deep partisan divides with 85% of Democrats supporting the approach compared to only 37% of Republicans, a 48-point gap.
Affordable premiums are voters’ top health care priority
Making health insurance premiums affordable for Michigan families was the highest-rated priority in the survey, with 76% calling it a top priority for the state’s elected leaders and 93% saying it is at least important. It is a top priority for 70% of Republicans and 85% of Democrats.
Strong support for mothers, babies, and rural maternity care
58% of voters support using state funding to make Rx Kids, the Michigan program that provides cash payments to expectant mothers and families with newborns, available statewide, compared to 32% opposed. Support climbs to 70% among voters with children under 18 at home. Just 27% of Republicans say they strongly oppose the program, and one in ten voters remains unsure, suggesting room for support to grow as more Michiganders learn about it.
Voters also want to protect access to maternity care outside the state's cities. 53% say maintaining maternity care in rural communities should be a top priority, and 91% say it is important. A similar 64% say keeping rural hospitals open should be a top priority.
Youth mental health: a clear mandate
Two-thirds of voters – 66% – say addressing the growing mental health crisis facing Michigan's children and youth should be a top priority for state leaders, and 94% say it is important. It is a top priority for 57% of Republicans and 75% of Democrats. Nearly half – 47% – also say protecting young people from the harmful effects of social media and AI chatbots should be a top priority.
How to increase trust in public health agencies
When asked what is ONE step that public health agencies can take to increase voters’ trust in them, Democrats and Republicans agree that removing political bias and being more transparent are the best ways for public health agencies to improve trust. Removing political bias was also the top choice among Independents. All three partisan categories expressed greater trust in their local health departments and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services than in federal agencies.
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Survey Methodology
The survey of 1,041 Michigan registered voters was conducted September 14–18, 2026, by Deep Root Analytics and Pierrepont Consulting & Analytics on behalf of Healthier United. It used a mixed-mode methodology of live cell phone, text-to-web, and online interviews. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is ±3.0 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
About Healthier United
Healthier United is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that works in tandem with The Healthier United Fund, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to improve public health on behalf of everyday Americans. We work at the local, state, and federal level to create a future in which every American has a fair chance at living a healthy life. Learn more at www.healthierunited.org.