Methodology: Benenson Strategy Group conducted a poll among 608 New Jersey gubernatorial voters on behalf of Hands Off Healthcare New Jersey from June 26 th-27th, 2017.

The margin of error is ± 3.91%.

Key Findings:

➢ Senator Joe Vitale’s proposal to place greater state control over Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield’s operations and make its reserve fund subject to a degree of state control draws widespread disapproval from New Jersey voters.

➢ While just half are following news of the legislation closely, once they are read a description of the issue and Vitale’s plan, 61% of New Jersey voters disapprove, while only 29% approve. ✓ This negative reaction crosses party lines, with 60% of registered Democrats, 65% of Republicans, and 58%% of Independents disapproving of the plan.

Description of Senator Vitale’s Proposal: In order to prevent a shutdown, Democratic State Senator Joe Vitale recently introduced a bill that would meet Governor Christie’s demands [to allow the state to tap into the reserves of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey]. The bill would give the Governor the power to determine that Horizon’s surplus is too large and force Horizon to spend down its reserve funds. The bill would also require Horizon to serve as the state’s insurer of last resort, which means they would have to issue policies to people who couldn’t get insured elsewhere, a costly responsibility currently shared by all the state’s health insurers. The bill would only effect Horizon, with no new rules for any of its competitors.

➢ With majorities of each party disapproving, legislators of either party supporting Vitale’s measure would likely face a backlash. ✓ By two-to-one (39-to-19), voters are more likely to say that they would be less likely to vote for a legislator who supported the bill than more likely. ✓ 38% of registered Democrats, 38% of registered Republicans, and 41% of registered Independents say they would be less likely to vote for a legislator who supports the plan. ➢ Notably, opposition to Vitale’s plan is slightly higher than was opposition to Governor Christie’s plan when we tested it earlier in the spring. ✓ In that poll of 500 New Jersey voters, we found that 54% disapproved of the Christie plan, while only 35% approved.

➢ The difficulty both Christie and Vitale face is that Horizon remains broadly popular, with voters overall and its own policyholders. ✓ 66% of voters are favorable to Horizon while only 17% are unfavorable, virtually unchanged since our March poll. Among policyholders, 81% are favorable and 12% are unfavorable. ✓ Horizon’s standing in the state is in sharp contrast to that of insurance companies overall, toward which only 39% are favorable and 49% are unfavorable. ✓ 24% of New Jersey voters are favorable to Christie, while 72% are unfavorable, including 53% who are very unfavorable. ✓ 25% are favorable to the state legislature, while 48% are unfavorable. The bottom line: Despite Gov. Christie’s persistent focus on his proposal, he has failed to persuade voters that greater control over Horizon is either justified or beneficial to ordinary voters. Even the support of a prominent Democrat giving the proposal a bipartisan appearance does nothing to dent voters’ widespread disapproval. Voters’ rejection of the plan crosses party lines, and legislators who support the plan will likely pay a price with their constituents.

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