Now that the Senate Finance Committee has passed its version of health care reform, 42% of voters nationwide favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and down four from the week before.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% are opposed to the plan.

The numbers have been remarkably stable throughout the debate. With the exception of bounces following presidential television appearances, support for the plan has stayed in a very narrow range from 41% to 46%. Currently, 24% Strongly Favor the legislative effort and 42% are Strongly Opposed.

While voters are skeptical of the plan working its way through Congress, 54% say that major changes are needed in the health care system. Sixty-one percent (61%) say it’s important for Congress to pass some reform.

Just 36% of the nation’s senior citizens favor the current legislative effort while 59% are opposed. Support is highest among voters under 30, the age group least likely to use the nation’s health care system. These generational dynamics also have been stable and consistent over the past several months. Rasmussen Reports is tracking support for the plan on a weekly basis.

But the number who expect the congressional plan to pass has grown to its highest level year. Fifty-six percent (56%) now say passage of health care reform is likely while 32% say it is not. Those figures include 21% who say passage is Very Likely and eight percent (8%) who say it is Not at All Likely.

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Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters say passage of the plan will make the cost of health care go up while 18% say it will make costs go down. As a recent commentary by Michael Barone noted, “The Trouble With Health Care Is Paying for It.” Most (59%) favor putting a provision in the plan that would prohibit any new taxes, fees or penalties on families who make less than $250,000 a year to pay for the reform initiative. Most also say that middle-class tax cuts are more important than new spending on health care.

In addition to cost concerns, a Rasmussen video report shows that 53% of those with insurance believe it’s likely they would have to change coverage if the congressional plan becomes law.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters nationwide say guaranteeing that no one is forced to change their health insurance coverage is a higher priority than giving consumers the choice of a "public option" health insurance company.

As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent. … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”

If the congressional plan passes, 23% of voters now say the quality of health care will get better, and 51% say it will get worse. In August, the numbers were 23% better and 50% worse.

The version of the plan working its way through the Senate includes a proposal that requires young and healthy Americans to either buy health insurance or pay a $750 annual penalty for not having it. Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters oppose that proposal.

Only 18% expect the final health care plan to be bipartisan. Yet 42% of all voters attribute Republican opposition to partisan politics rather than substance.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) say that health care costs will go down only when Americans change their lifestyle.

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