Despite Growing Number of Insured, Attitudes About ACA Have Not Shifted

Despite a growing number of people becoming insured in 2014, attitudes have not shifted about the Affordable Care Act.

Recent findings from a Kaiser Family Foundation poll indicate that nearly half (46%) of respondents say they viewed the health reform law unfavorably, with only 38% reporting a favorable impression of the policy.

“Despite the announcement that at least 8 million people have signed up for health insurance through the ACA’s new marketplace, overall favorability of the law remains exactly where it was in last month’s tracking poll,” said the report. “This is a slight improvement over polls taken from November through January, but still represents a more negative tilt to opinion than was measured in Kaiser tracking surveys before the troubled launch of the exchanges last October.”

Still more than half, or 58%, of poll respondents say they would support Congress if they improved the law, versus 35% who said they want it repealed completely. As well, even though enrollment numbers have reached 8 million, 57% felt the enrollment numbers were lower than anticipated. The Kaiser report also highlighted why some remain hesitant to become enrolled.

“When asked to say in their own words why they don’t currently have health insurance, the most common reason mentioned by the uninsured is that it is too expensive (39%), followed by employment-related reasons such as being unemployed or working for an employer that doesn’t offer coverage (22%),” stated the report. “Roughly 1 in 10 say they just haven’t gotten around to getting coverage or missed the deadline to apply (115), and a similar share feel they don’t want or need coverage (9%).”

Around the Web

Obamacare Remains Unpopular Despite Enrollment Surge [Modern Healthcare]

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: April 2014 [KFF]