Poll: Support For Health Care Reform Drops

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.

[annie_2010]

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.

[dblaess]

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.

[FedUpWithBozo]

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.

[kookfringe]

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!

[tsigili]

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.

[dblaess]

That is correct

[cleric60]

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.

[VoteThemOut2010]

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.

[dblaess]

This is one hundred percent correct

[dblaess]

This is one hundred percent correct

[longtree-2009]

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.

[rightbehind]

This President has been way to centrist. He's turned his back on his base. He should have demanded the Public option.

[lakuma3]

I completely agree! We need a Public Option or Medicare for all.

[kookfringe]

BHO is left of Castro,when was obama ever a centrist ?

[zebra8835]

Who can say precisely what it is? Who knows much about it? Polarized by their base, the Tea Party and the insurance lobby who say its bad for you people put it down. Simply put, health care is a benefit. When is increasing your benefits a bad thing? Especially if you're laid off and haven't any!

[rightbehind]

As much as I hate that law it also prevents denial for adults with pre existing conditions in about 3 years. Lot of people are starting new jobs with pre existing conditions. The republicans would have been looking for ways to cut more responsibility from insurance companies. The only thing I would fault it for is for not having the Public option. I don't believe it's proper to line someones pockets at the expense of the sick. We could have gone single payer and got rid of the phony baloney parasitic health care insurance market for what we are spending every month on the 2 wars.

[shallwedance]

If you are laid off and have no health insurance, how can you afford to pay for Government Health Insurance?? It ain't free you know--Duh!!! Health insurance will only benefit the Unions, and government workers, and those with a job--No job, no health insurance. Is the government going to subsidize free health care for all unemployed? How will they pay for it, and how will you pay your portion-if you have no job??