Obamacare enrollment success hasn't changed public opinion: Poll

The higher-than-expected enrollment in Obamacare's insurance exchanges during the six-month open enrollment period was a welcome bit of good news for the law's proponents, but according to Gallup, the surge in sign-ups didn't do much for the law's popularity.

In a new survey, 43 percent of respondents said they approve of the health care law, while 51 percent said they disapprove. Those figures are roughly similar to the results of another Gallup survey in early April that found 54 percent opposed to the law and 43 percent in favor.

A CBS News poll in late March found 53 percent opposed to the law and 41 percent in favor.

After the open enrollment period ended on March 31, President Obama and his administration proudly touted Obamacare's 8 million private insurance enrollees as evidence that the law was succeeding at expanding insurance coverage. The political victory was especially sweet for the administration after a disastrous rollout in October and November seemed to cast real doubt on the law's political future.

Still, only 37 percent of respondents in Gallup's latest poll said the law would make the U.S. health care system better. 44 percent said it would make things worse, while 16 percent said it wouldn't make much difference. Those numbers have scarcely changed since Gallup's April survey.

Gallup's poll surveyed 2,538 Americans between May 21 and 25, and it carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.