Ap-gfk Poll: Resistance to Health Care Bill Staunch
A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds Americans oppose the health care remake 50 percent to 39 percent. Before a divided Congress finally passed the bill and Obama signed it at a jubilant White House ceremony last month, public opinion was about evenly split. Another 10 percent of Americans say they are neutral.
Disapproval for Obamas handling of health care also increased from 46 percent in early March before he signed the bill, to 52 percent currently – a level not seen since last summers angry town hall meetings.
Nonetheless, the bleak numbers may not represent a final judgment for the president and his Democratic allies in Congress.
Only 28 percent of those polled said they understand the overhaul extremely or very well. And a big chunk of those who dont understand it remain neutral. Democrats hope to change public opinion by calling attention to benefits available this year for seniors, families with children transitioning to work and people shut out of coverage because of a medical problem.
“There are some things I like, because I think that there are some people who need health care,” said Jim Fall, 73, a retired computer consultant from Wrightwood, Calif.
But “I dont like the idea of the government dictating what health care should be like,” added Fall. “Nor do I like them taking money out of Medicare. They are going to create more waste and they are going to take away benefits.”
Seniors – reliable voters in midterm congressional races – were more likely to oppose the law. Forty-nine percent strongly opposed it, compared with 37 percent of those 64 and younger. Seniors worries that Medicare cuts to insurers, hospitals and other providers will undermine their care represent a formidable challenge for Democratic congressional candidates this fall.
Analysts said the level of public wariness on such a major piece of social legislation is unusual.
“The surprise of this poll is that you would expect people to be more supportive of the bill now that its the law of the land – and thats not the case,” said Robert Blendon, a Harvard public health professor who follows opinion trends on health care. “The election for the House is going to be competitive, and health care is clearly going to be an issue.”
The nearly $1 trillion, 10-year health care remake would provide coverage to nearly all Americans while also attempting to improve quality and slow the ruinous pace of rising medical costs.
Nonpartisan congressional budget analysts say the law is fully paid for. Its mix of Medicare cuts and tax increases, falling mainly on upper-income earners, would actually reduce the federal deficit. And people covered by large employers may even see a dip in their premiums.
The public doesnt seem to be buying it.
“Based on the little information we know, somebodys going to have to pay for it, so it makes sense that taxes would go up,” said Lang Fu, 48, an oil and gas engineer from Houston.
Politically, Americans are polarized. Democrats support the overhaul by 68 percent to 18 percent, while Republicans oppose it 85 percent to 9 percent. Independents are roughly even, with 44 percent opposed and 40 percent in favor – within the polls margin of error. That suggests theres some space for Obama and the laws supporters to make an appeal in its favor.
Donna Christian of Kingsport, Tenn., is a political independent who says shes leaning in favor of the law. A bad heart forced Christian, 45, to leave her job as a supervisor at a wireless phone company a few years ago. She and her 10-year-old daughter make do on a limited income, and have coverage through Medicaid.
“I think Americans are going to be better off in the long run even if they dont see that now,” Christian said. “More will have coverage, and theyll be able to go to the hospital when they need to.”
Ron Pollack, head of Families USA, a liberal advocacy group that supports the overhaul, said it will be “a real task” to turn public opinion around, but hes confident it will happen.