Americans' split on Obama health care law

Monday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act comes as the public opinion is divided over what should happen to the president's signature legislative achievement. According to a CBS News/New York Times Poll conducted last month, 45 percent of Americans think the health care law should be repealed, but nearly as many -- 41 percent -- say it should stay put. Among those who support repeal, 25 percent want to get rid of the entire law, and another 20 percent think just certain parts should be eliminated.

These views are similar to what they were in September when 47 percent backed repeal and 40 percent did not.

Many Republicans have argued that the health care law is unconstitutional because of a provision requiring individuals to purchase health insurance. While the poll question did not address the law's constitutionality, nearly eight in 10 Republicans think Congress should repeal the health care law, including 54 percent who want the entire law abolished. Democrats hold the opposing view: 60 percent support keeping the health care law as is. Independents are split.

Even though overall support for the health care law is mixed, majorities have favored some individual elements of the law, including requiring health insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions and allowing children to stay on their parents' health care plan until age 26. However, the provision that requires all Americans get health insurance is not as popular. A CNN/ORC Poll conducted this past summer found 54 percent of Americans oppose that provision.

[Martin_Turow]

This is why America exists. To protect the minority(smart) from the majority(uninformed). Clearly, people do not have the information to make an educated decision about healthcare reform. People say they are against the individual mandate because it is forcing them to buy something they don't want. Well, if we don't create an individual mandate, then we will all continue with the current dysfunctional system where the working, tax-paying citizens pay for all the non-working, non-taxpaying citizens and non-citizens who are getting free healthcare. Healthcare is expensive and unless everyone chips in and pools resources, then the system will not work, and we will continue paying for it any way. It is funny how people talk about personal responsibility and how important that is, but then are against the individual mandate. How can you be against everyone paying into a system we will all need at some point? With no individual mandate, then I will continue paying increased taxes for my drunken, uninsured neighbor who drives his motorcycle every weekend without a helmet, and when he gets in accident and needs $250,000 of medical care and rehab, I will be paying for it instead of him having paid anything? Where's the personal responsibility? People, especially the middle class, need to realize that we are already paying a mandate, it just comes in the form of taxes, which then pays for Medicaid. The mandate is an acknowledgement that paying for healthcare is everyone's responsibility, not just those who pay taxes. The current system is doomed to collapse and when it does, Americans will have no one else but themselves to blame for it. I don't like Obama, but he was right about the need to reform the system. You can't just take the parts of the bill that you like and get rid of the parts you don't. The individual mandate is what you need to make it work, and without it, it won't. And where will we be then? Right where we are now, living from paycheck to paycheck, uninsured, and only one accident away from backruptcy. Wake up people, seriously.

[quadcomputers]

Did you the bill? I will agree a government should oversee the care of their citzens. Whenever the Mexican President gets the message he has a responbility for his people; we won't have all these illegals coming here and running up medical bills. Their inablity pay the federal government not wanting to pay; has caused hospitals like the Massachuetts General to use an entire four story building to hold records. These date back to Bill Clinton's administration when he handed out billions of dollars for health care studies; here papers with no real cause and effect to the real problems; paying the costs being run up, this was money tossed out to people who supported his election.

[franknkissy]

We initially hoped our government would pass legislation to provide health protection for the low-wage worker and the poor - understanding that a great many middle-class americans already had and were satisfied with their health insurance 1 But since as usual with the lower-classes - no republicans came forward to protect the low-wage workers - the disabled - the poor - so we accepted the democratic plan ! Love thy Neighbor - leaves us no alternative ! .....Paz Intercesor !

[RobAla]

Republicans were totally shut of the health care discussions. When McCain attempted to talk to President Obama about it, President Obama basically said "I won, you lost". When Republican Congressmen who were also physicians asked to work with President Obama, the President ignored them. This was a total Democrat minded and acted upon deal. President Obama spent time behind closed doors with union leaders in drafting a deal for unions and different one for the rest of us - but he had no time to work in a bipartisan manner with Republicans.

This being the case, we have only Democrats to blame for this piece of crap law.

[sandy 1027]

One of the reasons that this program was implemented is that many uninsured people use emergency rooms as their primary source of health care.Taxpayers end up paying the bills, which are much more expensive than a doctor's office visit would be.The health care plan makes it possible for the uninsured to afford health insurance, and be able to pay for their own health care; and those who are already insured get to keep their own plans and doctors.Many people complain about the individual mandate portion of the bill,as being an over reach by the government; but in reality, there are a lot of things that the government mandates; one of them being paying federal, state, and local income taxes.Nobody likes doing that, but they are necessary to make sure that we have an adequate military, Congress, police, firefighters, paved roads, and street lights, just to name a few.Most states require drivers to have car insurance( a minimum of liability in case of an accident).The individual mandate didn't originate with President Obama, but was actually an idea embraced by many Republicans some years ago; so this isn't some Socialistic proposal out of left field.President Obama's health care plan was developed by the same team that developed Mitt Romney's plan in Massachusetts, and by most accounts, it has worked pretty well.

[involved_indi]

this is just what the democrats would have you believe.

[mingregct]

How come medical insurance is employer driven? Why can't it be consumer driven with affordable rates like car insurance? The government can provide health insurance to the unemployed and elderly at a much lower cost. Can that be achieved?

[RobAla]

Below is a collection of polls regarding American support for the health care law, and it shows that the averaging the polls Americans are 38.2% for it and 50.8% against it.

Poll Date Sample For/Favor Against/Oppose Spread
RCP Average 5/8 - 11/12 -- 38.2 50.8 Against/Oppose +12.6
Rasmussen Reports* 11/11 - 11/12 1000 LV 37 55 Against/Oppose +18
Associated Press/GfK 6/16 - 6/20 1001 A 36 46 Against/Oppose +10
CNN/Opinion Research 6/3 - 6/7 1015 A 39 56 Against/Oppose +17
CBS News 6/3 - 6/7 1024 A 37 48 Against/Oppose +11
Politico/GWU/Battleground* 5/8 - 5/12 1000 LV 42 49 Against/Oppose +7

[quadcomputers]

It cannot work on a national level. We have too many people in our country this not like Australia with only 20 million people. Boston gets more than 20 million tourists in three months. It is better each state handles their own health care concerns. This Obama wants a centrally controlled government; the congress and supreme court are only stalling blocks, which gets in his way. One day we will have a government like the Russians where everyone gets their fair share; especially those in the government; just look a Putin who was re-elected without the popular vote. One central government and one leader; this the way to move forward. Or we can move backwards 12 years? Obama does not get along well unless he works alone; executive order is now his only compromise.

[bjoh249]

The Obamacare bill is nothing more than government overreach of power disguised as healthcare reform. The Administration themselves have already dropped a key part of the bill that was favored by Ted Kennedy. The bill also hires thousands of IRS agents to stick their hands in our pockets. If this bill is allowed to stay then it won't be long before the government will mandate we buy something else, and then something else. One day we will wake up and all of our freedoms will be gone.

[lawkwfl]

@ GOPEconomic - so move to one of the Top 36 other countries, there's a diverse array of governments on the list if you don't like the health care in the US -> you have a choice you know. I hear France is a pretty nice place to live; they only work a 30 hour workweek and have 5 or 6 weeks of vacation a year.

Meanwhile the rest of us will stay and enjoy the fruits the US has to offer - sorry but your "fair share" isn't in my back pocket. Bon Voyage!!

[tsigili]

There are still a lot of Democrats who have NO IDEA what is actually in this law. Many of them would be very surprised, if they knew.

[fxr60]

No one should be made to purchase something they don't want! Ohio voted it down last week and 26 other states say no!! It will cost taxpayers 2.2 TRILLION dollars in one report I seen. You can NOT insure for FREE 30-40 MILLION more people and get decent healthcare. There are NOT enough doctors to handle the illegals and all the extras that take advantage of running to the Dr. with every ache and pain. Medicad is for the poor, no one gets turned away from a hosiptal. They cross the border into Texas and have their babies for FREE while someone in the next bed HAS to pay. I know this first hand by a nurse friend of mine in Texas! I see people in Dr. office's all the time that are on medicad and they get the same care as one who pays. I have lived in Europe and I know first hand socialized medicene is NOT the way to go-you may wait up to 1-2 yrs. for an operation, weeks or even months to see a specialist. Their survival rate on cancer and serious diseases is a lot less than our survival rate in the USA. You can look that up!!! Obamacare IS socialized medicene and we will NOT get to keep our current insurance. I vote No and everyone should think carefully on this issue. Your life depends on it!!!!

[Progress4USA]

Considering MOST of the bill has YET to come into affect, I would say that MOST Americans don't even know how beneficial the new law will be for them and their children.

[realist51]

Once again your analysis is correct. in the above survey people all ready want to keep what has been put into effect. Like the pre-exitsing clause, and carrying your kids until 26. when other parts are put into effect people may well find out that they will like other parts also. Some of the posts though seem misleading : Like the one about free medical for the 40 or 50 million uninsured. I believe there are going to be collectives or banks where people can get affordable ins. the fools who don't think that they aren't all ready paying need to wake up. why do you think your rates are so high now? The supreme court ought to be careful here if they rule the federal mandate unconstitutional then the state mandates for car ins. and motorcycle insurance may have to be deemed the same. regardless of what people say states rights do not supersede the constitution. For that matter even things like the speed limit maybe up for reconsideration as it's a mandate to force you to drive no faster than 65? and if you do and get caught then you pay a fine much like you do if you don't carry ins.