House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared last week that health insurance companies are “villains,” and 25% of U.S. voters agree with her.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% disagree with the speaker and don’t believe health insurers are “villains.” Virtually the same number (38%), however, are not sure, a finding which should give insurers pause as the health care reform debate intensifies.

Fifty percent (50%) of Republicans disagree with Pelosi, as do the plurality (45%) of voters not affiliated with either major political party. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Democrats share her view, but 19% don’t. Yet all three groups have sizable numbers who are not sure.

Still, 80% of those with health insurance rate their own coverage as good or excellent. That’s up 10 points from May.

Higher-income voters are generally less critical of health insurance companies than those who earn less. Voters who make under $20,000 per year are evenly divided on the question.

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Pelosi in remarks to reporters on July 30, as reported by The Politico newspaper, said, “The public option — that’s where the insurance companies are making their attacks — it’s almost immoral what they are doing.

“Of course, they’ve been immoral all along,” she said. “They are the villains in this. They have been part of the problem in a major way. They are doing everything in their power to stop a public option from happening, and the public has to know. They have had a good thing going for a long time at the expense of the American people and the health of our country.”

Just 35% of voters support the so-called “public option” - a government health insurance company to compete with private health insurers - as President Obama and congressional Democrats propose in their health care plan. Fifty percent (50%) oppose a government-run health insurance company.

Forty-one percent (41%) of voters have a favorable opinion of the people opposing the health care reform plan at town hall meetings now being conducted by members of Congress, but 35% don’t.

Just 14% of voters give Congress good or excellent marks this month, the lowest rating for the legislators since February.

Fifty-six percent (56%) say Congress is doing a poor job, up nine points since June and the highest level found since October of last year.

Americans are closely divided over the health care reform proposals working their way through Congress, but most remain convinced that the plans will raise costs and hurt the quality of the care they receive.

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