July 13, 2010 6:30 PM

Poll: Support For Health Care Reform Drops

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Polling

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

Updated Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET

Americans continue to be more likely to disapprove than approve of President Obama's sweeping health care reforms, a new CBS News poll shows. While approval of the law is slightly higher than it was when the reforms were signed into law in March, support for the measure has dropped seven points in the past two months.

Forty-nine percent of Americans now disapprove of the health care reform measure, according to the poll, which was conducted July 9 - 12. Thirty-six percent support the law.

In a May CBS News poll, 47 percent disapproved of the new laws, while 43 percent approved.

While the new poll shows a recent drop in support, the numbers have still improved overall since March, when 53 percent of Americans disapproved of the new laws and 32 percent said they approved of them.

Most Republicans and independents disapprove of the reform package, the poll finds, while most Democrats approve of it.

Americans continue to see little personal benefit from the health care reform legislation. By more than two to one, Americans think it will hurt (33 percent) rather than help them (13 percent). Forty-eight percent expect the reform to have no effect on them personally.

When asked to name the country's most important problem, 6 percent named health care - about the same percentage of Americans who named the federal deficit (5 percent) and the Gulf oil spill (5 percent). The most cited problem by far, at 38 percent, was the economy.

Thirty-nine percent of Americans said Mr. Obama has spent relatively too much time on health care reform. Thirty-one percent said he has spent the right amount of time on it, while 24 percent said he has spent too little time.

More from the poll:

Obama's Approval Rating on Economy Drops
Poll: Americans Say Bad Economy Will Linger
Poll: Most Want Afghanistan Withdrawal Timeline
Poll: Support for Arizona Immigration Law Hits 57 Percent

Read the Complete Poll

This article was corrected to note that support for health care dropped seven points, not five points, in the past two months.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 966 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone July 9-12, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.


Add a Comment See all 36 Comments
by annie_2010 September 13, 2010 9:09 PM EDT
Other countries are able to provide health care for ALL of their citizens and we should be ashamed that we don't. Health care is a right, not a privilege for those fortunate enough to afford it.
It's funny how people love "socialist" programs like social security and medicare when it benefits them, but then when a program benefits the rest of the country they all of a sudden cry foul.
Reply to this comment
by dblaess July 15, 2010 2:23 PM EDT
As Nancy said, We need to pass this bill to see what this bill is, or word to that effect. It appears the public has seen the bill and does not like it. I expect Katie will never mention this but I thought in good reporter style I would.
Reply to this comment
by FedUpWithBozo July 14, 2010 6:57 PM EDT
For the next several years we will see the staggering cost increases the health care legislation is going to cause for the simple reason that the cost of care was never considered in this bill only the control it granted the government. I don't know about the rest of you lemmings but I don't want some drivers license bureau reject telling me what health care I can and cannot have and I also don't want to wait months to see my doctor. Now, before you shout none of this will happen let me tell you that if you think adding 30 million new patients to the existing system without adding any new capacity won't require rationing you are totally ignorant, just take a look at the guy that Obama just appointed to run Medicare, he has already told us there will be rationing. If you want to reform the system make it truly free market, haven't you seen the commercials from the face lift guys that's what drives down costs.

I agree some changes need to be made but these are NOT the changes needed.
Reply to this comment
by izzyis1 July 14, 2010 4:33 PM EDT
I am amazed that people use 'media'labels like socialist or capitalist and have no idea what it means or where they fit.

This political system is controlled by avaricious special interests and the oligarchy. The dissatisfaction with the health 'reform' is not because of what it covers or doesn't most of what is covered is in other laws, such as the Hill-Burton law.

The reality is that by 'mandate' another way of saying forced to pay, it becomes a gift to the insurance companies and you cannot get the insurance to pay for what they are obligated too, because they control the commissions that are suppose to have oversight. Try disputing them when under plan 'D' you look for coverage for a Doctor prescribed medicine and they refuse, and you can whistle. Remember the BILLIONS of dollars that pharmaceutical and insurance companies spent fighting reform

Wish as you may, this government is a 'republican' form and not a democracy. It is a Chinese restaurant [with apologizes] you can pick from column 'A' or 'B' and you still get Chinese food, and that is because of lobbyists who have the congress and the administration in their pocket and they get paid by the special interests.

Until this country comes at least into the 20th century by going to a parliamentary form of government so that the American citizen has a voice we will get just what we have been getting, SHAFTED! Correct me if I am wrong was it not Obama when he was running who said he was going to get rid of the influence of the lobbies. Fat chance!!!
Reply to this comment
by thastisme July 14, 2010 7:39 PM EDT
izzyis1.
The "system" is not "controlled" by any organization.
People ***** and moan about how they have no influence over their government. They give Senators and Congressmen approval ratings of under 25% during the year, but then re-elect better than 95% of our politicians.
Hellooo, do you know how your Congressman/woman or Senator voted on any subject??? Is this what you expected from them?? Do you write them if you disagree??
Every time you send them back to Washington, their disdain of you the voters grows.
We voted them back after they passed their retirement and health care benefits, when they voted for the automatic annual salary and benefit increases.
Are you even aware of these benefits they voted for themselves??
Had we voted them out after these votes, we would have sent them a message they are in Washington to serve us, not themselves.
When did career politicians take over Washington?? That was not what the Founding Fathers wanted. No real responsibility to anyone, but unlimited benefits
Right now it is the best job available. Unlimited junket travel, with wife and family, guaranteed retirement after just 2 or three terms on the House, one term in the Senate.
Most elected officials now in office either have an agenda, and it is not to serve you, their Constituents.
by kookfringe July 14, 2010 12:47 PM EDT
I am a republican,BHO is so far left he makes me lone for the good old days of Bill Clinton.What a con job obama pulled off in 2008!
Reply to this comment
by tsigili July 14, 2010 10:42 AM EDT
We all know the details now. Some of us are already being hit with the major cost increases of our health care plans, as a result of that bill.

We all know that we are going to continue to be hit, year upon year, until 2016, and by that time, NO ONE is going to be able to afford health care.

Nice job, Obama.
Reply to this comment
by dblaess July 15, 2010 2:24 PM EDT
That is correct
by cleric60 July 14, 2010 10:18 AM EDT
I'm not surprized..more and more professional health careproviders are opposed to Obamacare and it's socialistic agenda. Just start reading in professional medical/healthcare journals, papers, etc.
Reply to this comment
by VoteThemOut2010 July 14, 2010 7:53 AM EDT
I was informed this week that I will have to pay more or take lesser coverage for my Health Insurance. "Costs are going up 30% this year" What does "Health Care Reform" do to curb this cost? NOTHING! It only ensured that those that pay will pay more for less. MANDATORY! "Reform", what a joke! Only a Socialist would see this as reform.
Reply to this comment
by dblaess July 15, 2010 1:55 PM EDT
This is one hundred percent correct
by dblaess July 15, 2010 1:56 PM EDT
This is one hundred percent correct
by longtree-2009 July 14, 2010 5:35 AM EDT
if the health care bill does not increase monthly premiums for young and old, including medicare, does not cause reduction in benefits or cause employers to reduce benefits for current employees or retirees, does not increase copays, does not increase the cost of medical care, does not further increase the use of ER, then it is probably a good thing. don't hold your breath though, as we might all just get hosed here and there. sadly obama is a huge disappointment to many, across the board. if your life is better today because of obama and the democrats then by all means keep voting democrat.
Reply to this comment
by rightbehind July 14, 2010 2:18 AM EDT
This President has been way to centrist. He's turned his back on his base. He should have demanded the Public option.
Reply to this comment
by lakuma3 July 14, 2010 9:50 AM EDT
I completely agree! We need a Public Option or Medicare for all.
by kookfringe July 14, 2010 12:50 PM EDT
BHO is left of Castro,when was obama ever a centrist ?
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