Kaiser Health Tracking Poll — April 2010
The first Kaiser Health Tracking Poll fielded since the passage of health reform last month finds that 8 in 10 Americans know that President Obama signed the legislation into law. But 55 percent say they are confused about the law and more than half (56%) say they don’t yet have enough information to understand how it will affect them personally.
The poll finds that the public supports many of the provisions of health reform that are set to be implemented in the short term. When asked about 11 specific provisions scheduled to take effect this year, in each case a majority of Americans viewed them favorably, often with bipartisan support.
Still, the public remains divided on the law overall, with 46 percent viewing it favorably, 40 percent unfavorably and 14 percent undecided. Similarly, 31 percent of Americans say they expect personally to be better off because of the law, while 32 percent say they will be worse off and 30 percent say they don’t expect to be affected.
The April poll is the latest in a series designed and analyzed by the Foundation’s public opinion survey research team.
News Release
Findings (.pdf)
Chartpack (.pdf)
Toplines (.pdf)
The poll finds that the public supports many of the provisions of health reform that are set to be implemented in the short term. When asked about 11 specific provisions scheduled to take effect this year, in each case a majority of Americans viewed them favorably, often with bipartisan support.
Still, the public remains divided on the law overall, with 46 percent viewing it favorably, 40 percent unfavorably and 14 percent undecided. Similarly, 31 percent of Americans say they expect personally to be better off because of the law, while 32 percent say they will be worse off and 30 percent say they don’t expect to be affected.
The April poll is the latest in a series designed and analyzed by the Foundation’s public opinion survey research team.
News Release
Findings (.pdf) Chartpack (.pdf) Toplines (.pdf)Americans Remain Divided on Health Reform But Are Confused
About The Law And How And When It Will Affect Them
Many Provisions That Take Effect in 2010 Are Popular
And Have Bipartisan Support MENLO PARK, CA –The first Kaiser Health Tracking Poll fielded since the passage of health reform last month finds that 8 in 10 Americans know that President Obama signed the legislation into law. But 55 percent say they are confused about the law and more than half (56%) say they don’t yet have enough information to understand how it will affect them personally.
The April poll finds that the public supports many of the provisions of health reform that are set to be implemented in the short term. When asked about 11 specific provisions scheduled to take effect this year, in each case a majority of Americans viewed them favorably, often with bipartisan support.
Many Reform Provisions That Take Effect in 2010 Are Popular With Bipartisan Support
The new law was constructed to include some provisions that take effect in the first year so that the public would feel tangible results in the short term. The poll tested the popularity of many of these early measures and finds widespread support for them across the political spectrum, including among Republicans and independents
In each of these cases, at least two-thirds of Republicans and independents join most Democrats in viewing the provisions favorably.
Although anger grabs the headlines, the only emotion shared by more than half of the public when it comes to the health reform law is confusion. Overall, 55 percent say they are confused, an emotion more deeply rooted among those who feel unfavorably toward reform (61% of whom feel confused) than among those who favor it (44% of whom feel confused).
Minorities of Americans report feeling other emotions, including 45 percent each who say they are “pleased” or “disappointed,” 42 percent who are “anxious,” and 40 percent who are “relieved.” Anger is at the bottom of the list, a feeling reported by 30 percent of the public, including 16 percent who say they are “very angry.” Asked what about health reform made them angry, that 30 percent divided as follows: 9 percent did not like the way the policymaking process worked, 7 percent did not like the final content, and 12 percent did not approve of either.
Americans of all political leanings pointed to cable television news more than any other source when they were asked to choose their most important source of news and information about the law. More than a third (36%) cited cable TV news stations and their websites as their most important outlet, followed by network news (16%), newspapers (12%), friends and family (10%) and the radio (9%).
About The Law And How And When It Will Affect Them
And Have Bipartisan Support
Cable News Tops List of the Public’s “Most Important” Information Sources
The April poll finds that the public supports many of the provisions of health reform that are set to be implemented in the short term. When asked about 11 specific provisions scheduled to take effect this year, in each case a majority of Americans viewed them favorably, often with bipartisan support.
Many Reform Provisions That Take Effect in 2010 Are Popular With Bipartisan Support
The new law was constructed to include some provisions that take effect in the first year so that the public would feel tangible results in the short term. The poll tested the popularity of many of these early measures and finds widespread support for them across the political spectrum, including among Republicans and independents
In each of these cases, at least two-thirds of Republicans and independents join most Democrats in viewing the provisions favorably.
Although anger grabs the headlines, the only emotion shared by more than half of the public when it comes to the health reform law is confusion. Overall, 55 percent say they are confused, an emotion more deeply rooted among those who feel unfavorably toward reform (61% of whom feel confused) than among those who favor it (44% of whom feel confused).
Minorities of Americans report feeling other emotions, including 45 percent each who say they are “pleased” or “disappointed,” 42 percent who are “anxious,” and 40 percent who are “relieved.” Anger is at the bottom of the list, a feeling reported by 30 percent of the public, including 16 percent who say they are “very angry.” Asked what about health reform made them angry, that 30 percent divided as follows: 9 percent did not like the way the policymaking process worked, 7 percent did not like the final content, and 12 percent did not approve of either.
Americans of all political leanings pointed to cable television news more than any other source when they were asked to choose their most important source of news and information about the law. More than a third (36%) cited cable TV news stations and their websites as their most important outlet, followed by network news (16%), newspapers (12%), friends and family (10%) and the radio (9%).
Methodology This Kaiser Health Tracking Poll was designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation. The survey was conducted April 9 through April 14, 2010, among a nationally representative random sample of 1,208 adults ages 18 and older. Telephone interviews conducted by landline (801) and cell phone (407, including 171 who had no landline telephone) were carried out in English and Spanish. The margin of sampling error for the total sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For results based on subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher. The full question wording, results, charts and a brief on the poll can be viewed online at http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls. |
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible information and analysis on health issues.
Gone mainstream.