Story at a glance
- A representative survey of U.S. citizens showcase a slim majority supporting the Affordable Care Act.
- Survey respondents report little overall change in their health care plans and experience.
A new Gallup poll surveying Americans’ perceptions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reveals that a slight majority — 52 percent — of American citizens approve of the law. A substantial 48 percent of the population reportedly disapprove of it.
As the ACA will be 10 years old on March 23, 2020. The research company conducted telephone interviews Feb. 17- 28, surveying 1,020 U.S. adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The survey questions focused on how affected respondents felt about the ACA. Questions included whether or not respondents’ insurance premiums had decreased or increased, whether they were able to obtain coverage for preexisting conditions, and whether they had to change physicians.
Overall, Americans have mixed views on how the ACA affects their health care plans. But the majority, 78 percent, reported not having to change their primary care physician or doctor, and the same percentage were not required to give up a medical plan due to noncompliance with the ACA.
Another 28 percent said that the ACA gave them health insurance when they were previously uninsured.
Gallup notes that the ACA has always been divisive. Approval peaked at 55 percent approval in 2017.
At the same time, it appears the ACA has not clearly alleviated individuals’ health care costs. 80 percent of respondents did not report a drop in health insurance premiums. A majority, 53 percent, reported an increase in premiums since the law was passed.
Similarly, 61 percent do not think they have access to more services in their plan since the passage of the ACA, and another 79 percent reported not obtaining coverage for a preexisting condition that wasn’t included in their previous plan.
The Supreme Court have agreed to hear a case against the ACA. According to The Washington Post, the justices will review a federal appeals court decision that deemed part of the ACA unconstitutional because of the removal of the individual mandate clause, which requires citizens to have some type of health insurance.
A district judge in Texas ruled that without the individual mandate, there would be no tax-generating penalty that made the law constitutional in the first place.
According to The Washington Post, a decision will likely not be made until the spring or summer of 2021.
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