Satisfied With Their Health Insurance Coverage, A Plurality of Voters Say They Will be Worse Off Under ObamacareMost Think Premiums Will Increase Because of the Law

Majority Opposes the Law

Today American Viewpoint continues its series of releases from a recent national online survey with a look at public opinion on the Affordable Care Act and its impact.

As the implementation of the Affordable Care Act moves forward, and just four months prior to the launch of the health exchanges, most voters continue to oppose the law, with just 35% in favor and 50% opposed.  A plurality or majority of most population subgroups oppose the law.  Exceptions include Democrats (62% favor - 20% oppose), liberals (66%-14%), women age 18-34 (40%-36%), African Americans (53%-7%) and Hispanics (51%-42%).  Substantial opposition cuts across income groups.  In fact, majorities of those earning less than $40,000 (51%) and more than $75,000 (51%) oppose the law as does a plurality of middle-income voters (48%).

Three factors underscore this opposition. 

First, most voters are highly satisfied with their health insurance coverage.  Indeed, the vast majority (85%) of those with health insurance (81% of all voters) are satisfied with their coverage while only 15% are dissatisfied.  In all, 36% are very satisfied, 49% are somewhat satisfied, 9% are somewhat dissatisfied and 6% are very dissatisfied.  Further, satisfaction levels are high across the population. 

Second, only 15% say they will be better off under the new law while 37% say they will be worse off under Obamacare and 32% say it won’t make a difference.  Across the population, only those 18-29 (28% better off – 24% worse off), Democrats (27%-15%), liberals (33%-10%) and African Americans (23%-7%) have a greater number saying they will be better off than worse off under the new law.  Pluralities of other age groups – and a majority of Senior Citizens (9% better off – 52% worse off) say they will be worse off as do Independents (12%-41%) and Republicans (3%-64%).  Even political moderates, a plurality of whom support the law (46%-39%), have more voters saying that they personally will be worse off (27%) than better off (18%).  The law’s support groups tend to say the law won’t make a difference to them personally.

Third, 45% think their premiums will increase solely as a result of Obamacare while only 5% think their premiums will decrease and 27% think premiums will stay about the same.  Most population subgroups show at least a plurality saying their premiums will increase as a result of the new law.  Majorities of Seniors (55%), Whites (52%) and Republicans (64%) say their premiums will increase because of the law as do 48% of Independents. Even among those who favor the law, more say that premiums will increase (23%) than say they will decrease (10%) although most of those who favor the law think that premiums will stay the same (55%).

The survey was conducted via online interviewing June 14-17, 2013 of registered voters nationwide.  The margin of error for a random sample (n=1000) is +/- 3.1% at the 95% confidence level.  The margin of error among sub-groups is greater.

For more information about American Viewpoint and the research we provide, email us at info@amview.com.