In the United States, an estimated 31 million people avoid doctor’s visits because they simply cannot afford to pay for care. That excludes a sizable portion of the population from access to preventative care and routine treatments that could mean even higher costs down the line–and taxpayers are generally the ones footing the bill.

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While 31 million is a big number, some states are feeling it more than others. States like California with big populations and even bigger deficits have a long way to go to ensure that all of their citizens have proper access to care. More than 3.6 million Californians forgo treatment annually because they can’t cover the costs. States like Texas, Florida and New York face similar problems.

While it seems logical that the largest states with the largest uninsured populations would have the deepest support for reform, a new study says there is a disconnect between need for coverage and  political support for it. Three Florida districts in which at least a third of the population is uninsured have thrown their support behind Republicans. In Massachusetts, the opposite is true. All 10 Democratic representatives from the state are expected to vote in favor of national health care reform legislation, though their state already has the lowest uninsured rate in the nation.

Regardless of regional political trends, more and more people seem to be warming up to an omnibus federal program as a means of solving health care woes within the individual states. Even while criticizing the White House on other domestic and foreign policy issues, a number of prominent Conservative governors have come out in support of expanding health care coverage in America. That growing list includes Michael Bloomberg, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gov. Tommy Thomspon, Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Bush Administration. In a statement released last week, Schwarzenegger called on Washington to pass comprehensive coverage, saying the legislation fell squarely in line with Sacramento’s interests.

Our principle goals, slowing the growth in costs, enhancing the quality of care delivered, improving the lives of individuals, and helping to ensure a strong economic recovery, are the same goals that the president is trying to achieve.

Although coherent health care legislation still has a ways to go, the bill that the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on Tuesday provides a great start. By extending coverage to 29 million more Americans while simultaneously paring down Medicare spending and the federal deficit, the bill will make coverage more uniform across the country–and take some of the pressure off individual states. That’s something even the most conservative states can get behind.