The November 2010 tracking poll was conducted in the days following the mid-term
election that resulted in major gains for Republicans, including a shift in
control of the House of Representatives. The survey attempts to gauge what role
health reform played in voters’ decisions, and to measure the current public
mood about the health reform law.
The poll finds that voters say health
care reform was a factor that influenced their vote, but not a dominant one. The
economy/jobs was the factor mentioned by voters most often (29%), followed by
party preference (25%) and views of the candidates themselves (21%). Health care
ranked fourth at 17 percent. Those 17 percent of voters who named health care as
one of their top voting factors were more likely than non-health care voters to
back a Republican candidate for Congress (59% vs. 44%), and to say they have a
“very unfavorable” view of the law (56% vs. 33%).
Looking ahead,
Americans remain divided about what lawmakers should do, with 21 percent of the
public favoring expansion of the health reform law, 19 percent wanting to leave
it as is, a quarter wanting to repeal parts of the law, and 24 percent wanting
the entire law repealed. Among mid-term voters, a majority (56%) would like to
see the law repealed entirely or in part. Voters split sharply along partisan
lines. Two-thirds of those who voted for Democratic candidates want the law
expanded or left as is, while and eight in 10 of those who voted Republican
support full or partial repeal.
Several key provisions of health reform
remain popular, even among those who support repeal of all or parts of the law.
Majorities of supporters of repeal would like to keep tax credits for small
businesses offering coverage; the prohibition on insurance companies denying
coverage based on medical history or health condition; the gradual closing of
the Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole”; and financial subsidies to help
low and moderate income Americans purchase coverage. By contrast, two-thirds of
the general public support repealing the individual mandate, another key
provision in the law.
The November poll is the latest in a series
designed and analyzed by the Foundation’s public opinion research team.
Findings (.pdf)
Chartpack (.pdf)
Toplines (.pdf)
