American Public Still Doesn’t Like Obamacare

Alyene Senger / June 28, 2013

Newscom

Despite declarations made by advocates that Obamacare is the “law of the land,” a new Gallup poll shows that a majority of Americans still disapprove of it, with 52 percent of adults generally disapproving.

But a more telling measure of support comes from the response to this question from those who are uninsured:

In the long run, how you do you think the healthcare law will affect your family’s healthcare situation/the healthcare situation in the U.S.—will it make things better, not make much difference, or will it make things worse?

The figures were nearly split in thirds, with 37 percent of the uninsured responding it would make things better for their family’s health care, 35 percent responding “no difference,” and 34 percent thinking it would make things worse.

When asked how Obamacare would affect U.S. health care overall, 39 percent of the uninsured thought it would make it better, 36 percent thought it would worsen the U.S. health care situation, and 22 percent responded that it wouldn’t make a difference.

Gallup’s results complement another poll by InsuranceQuotes from last month that found 64 percent of the uninsured are uncertain whether they will purchase insurance coverage once Obamacare takes full effect next year.

The uninsureds’ opinion of the law is important, as they are the ones with the most to gain from its implementation. This is the precise population that is supposed to sign up for coverage via Obamacare’s exchanges just less than 100 days from now.

With wavering support and a general lack of awareness regarding the law, it appears that Obamacare’s takeoff may indeed involve some “bumps” and “glitches,” as the President and other supporters of the law have previously indicated.