1. The Public Opinion Landscape:
Health Care
March 26, 2012

2. SUMMARY
1. Two years since being signed into law, opinion on the health reform law
remains divided
• Views on the health reform law remain strongly partisan
2. Most elements of the health reform law are viewed favorably with the
exception of the individual mandate
3. Most Americans consider the individual mandate unconstitutional
• A substantial minority believes the law has been overturned by the
Supreme Court
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3. Views on Reform
2

4. TWO YEARS OF CLOSELY DIVIDED OPINION ON ACA
As you may know, a health reform bill was signed into law in 2010. Given what you know about the health
reform law, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable opinion of it?
80%
ACA signed into law
on March 23, 2010
Favorable Unfavorable Don’t know/Refused
60%
50 50 51
48 49 48
46 45 46 46
44 44 44 43 44 43 44 43 44 43
42 42 41 41%
40%
43 42 43 42
40 41 41 40 40 41 41 41 42 42 42 41 41 42
40%
39
37 37
35 34
18 18 18 19 19 19%
20% 17 16 17
14 14 14 15 14 15 15 15
12 13 12
10 11
9 8
0%
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
2010
2011
2012
A recent CBS News/New York Times poll
shows 47 percent of Americans disapprove
of the Affordable Care Act, with 36 percent
indicating they support the law. 3
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls

5. A LASTING PARTISAN GAP ON ACA
Percent who say they have a favorable opinion of the health reform law:
ACA signed into law
on March 23, 2010 Democrats Independents Republicans
80% 78 75
72 73 73 71 72
69 68 69 68 69
66 64 65 64 65 66%
60 62 64 62 64
60%
52
49 48
41 42 43 41
38 40 40%
40% 36 37 34
37 37
34
37 35 33 36
33 32 34 33 30
23 21 21 24
20 19
20% 16 15 17 16 16
13 12 12 11 12 14
11 9 11 12 12 12%
8
0%
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
2010
2011
2012
4
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls

6. REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION MARKEDLY MORE
INTENSE THAN DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT
As you may know, a new health reform bill was signed into law early last year. Given
what you know about the health reform law, do you have a generally favorable or
generally unfavorable opinion of it?
Total 18% 23% 11% 29%
Democrats 34% 32% 6%6%
Independents 15% 25% 13% 29%
4% 8% 15% 60%
Republicans
Very Favorable Somewhat Favorable Somewhat Unfavorable Very Unfavorable
Note: DK/REF answers not shown.
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Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll, February 29 – March 5, 2012

7. VAST MAJORITY HAVE HEARD MOSTLY NEGATIVE
THINGS ABOUT THE LAW
Have the things you’ve heard about this law recently been mainly (positive) or mainly (negative)?
Mainly
positive, 19%
Mainly
negative, 70%
Mixed, 5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
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Note: No opinion answers not shown.
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, March 7-10, 2012

8. MOST AMERICANS FEEL THEY UNDERSTAND THE
REFORMS THAT WERE PASSED BUT ONLY SOMEWHAT
WELL; A QUARTER ADMITS THEY LACK UNDERSTANDING
How well do you feel you understand the healthcare reforms that were passed by
Congress in March of 2010?
Feb-12 10% 18% 44% 12% 15%
Apr-10 8% 20% 44% 17% 12%
Extremely Well Very Well Somewhat Well Not Too Well Not Well At All
Note: “Don’t know / Refused answers not 7
shown.
Source: AP-GfK Poll, February, 16-20, 2012

9. FEW HAVE FELT LAW’S EFFECT
THOSE WHO HAVE CITE INCREASED ACCESS AND COST
So far, would you say you and your family have So far, would you say you and your family
personally benefitted from the health reform have been negatively affected by the health
law, or not? reform law, or not?
21%
83% 14% 76% Yes
Yes No
No 4%
3% DK/REF
DK/REF
Most common benefit: Access to health care (39%) Most common negative: Cost (52%)
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Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls, February 29 – March 5, 2012

10. MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT LAW’S IMPACT ON
THE COUNTRY
Do you think the country as a whole will be better off or worse off under the new health reform
law, or don’t you think it will make much difference?
The country as a whole
50%
40% 38% 36%
30%
20% 18%
10%
0%
Better off Worse off Wont make much
difference
Note: “Depends” (vol.) and Don’t know /
Refused answers not shown.
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Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls, February 29 – March 5, 2012

11. ONLY A QUARTER OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THE LAW
WILL MAKE THEIR FAMILY’S HEALTHCARE SITUATION
BETTER; VIEWS ARE HIGHLY PARTISAN
Now suppose all the provisions of the healthcare law go into effect in the next few years. In the long
run, how do you think the healthcare law would affect your family’s healthcare situation? Would it
make things better, not make much difference, or would it make things worse?
All Americans 24% 34% 38%
Democrats 40% 43% 12%
Independents 26% 33% 35%
Republicans 3% 25% 68%
Make Better Not Much Difference Make Worse
10
Note: Don’t know / Refused answers not shown.
Source: USA Today/Gallup Poll, February 20-21, 2012

12. MORE PERCEIVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF LAW
THAN POSITIVE EFFECTS
As of today, do you think the health care law has or has not done each of the following?
YES, health care NO, health care law
Don’t know/Refused
law has done this has not done this
Increased the federal budget deficit 54% 32% 15%
Significantly increased the price of health insurance 49% 38% 12%
Allowed many young adults under age 26 to obtain
47% 33% 19%
health insurance coverage
Caused many employers to drop health insurance
coverage for their employees
44% 40% 16%
Eliminated costs for preventive services such as blood
27% 51% 22%
pressure screenings for people with health insurance
Lowered prescription drug costs for seniors 26% 50% 24%
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Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls, February 29 – March 5, 2012

13. Elements of the Law
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14. MOST ELEMENTS OF LAW VIEWED FAVORABLY BY
MAJORITY OF PUBLIC
Next, I’m going to read you several elements of the health reform law. As I read each one,
please tell me whether you feel very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable,
or very unfavorable about it.
Very Somewhat Somewhat Very
favorable favorable unfavorable unfavorable
Require easy-to-understand plan summaries 50% 29% 7% 11%
Guaranteed issue 45 24 11 17
Tax credits to small businesses 44 36 8 8
Subsidy assistance to individuals 43 28 10 15
No cost sharing for preventive services 42 27 15 13
Health plan decision appeals 37 34 12 12
Medicaid expansion 36 34 12 15
Medical loss ratio 32 25 16 19
Employer mandate/penalty for large employers 29 25 15 29
Increase Medicare payroll tax on upper income 26 27 17 24
Basic benefits package, defined by government 23 28 15 31
Individual mandate/penalty 15 17 12 54
Response wording abbreviated. Don’t know/Refused answers not shown.
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Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls, February 29 – March 5, 2012

15. MOST POPULAR PROVISIONS AMONG LEAST
WIDELY RECOGNIZED
Percent who say they have a favorable opinion of each of the following and percent who say
they are aware each is included in the health reform law:
Percent with a favorable Percent who are aware
view of provision provision is included in ACA
80%
Tax credits to small businesses
49%
79%
Require easy-to-understand plan summaries
49%
71%
Health plan decision appeals
51%
69%
No cost sharing for preventive services
37%
57%
Medical loss ratio
35%
32%
Individual mandate/penalty
64%
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Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls, February 29 – March 5, 2012

16. AMERICANS OPPOSE THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE
Do you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose a law...
…that would require every American to have health insurance, or pay money to the
government as a penalty if they do not, unless the person is very poor?
Jan, 2011 Feb, 2012
59% 58%
Oppose Oppose
31% 7% 34%
6%
Favor Neither Favor Neither
15
Note: Don’t know / Refused answers not shown.
Source: AP-GfK Poll, February 16-20, 2012

17. BUT FAVOR THE EMPLOYER MANDATE
Do you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose a law...
…requiring most medium-size and large companies to offer health insurance to their
employees or pay money to the government as a penalty if they don’t?
Jan, 2011 Feb, 2012
32% 32%
Oppose Oppose
9% 60%
59% Neither Favor 6%
Favor Neither
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Note: Don’t know / Refused answers not shown.
Source: AP-GfK Poll, February, 16-20, 2012

18. Next Steps
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19. PLURALITY OF AMERICANS THINK LAW MAY NEED
SMALL TWEAKS BUT WANT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS;
OVER A THIRD WANT IT REPEALED
Turning to the health care law passed last year, what is your opinion of the law? It should be
repealed. It may need small modifications, but we should see how it works. It should be left alone.
50% 46%
40% 37%
30% Should be repealed
See how it works
20% Should be left alone
11%
10%
0%
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Source: Bloomberg News Poll, March 8-11, 2012 Note: “Unsure” answers not shown.

20. Constitutionality
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21. FOUR IN TEN ARE UNSURE WHETHER THE LAW
HAS BEEN OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME
COURT OR MISTAKENLY BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN
OVERTURNED
As far as you
know, which comes
It has been overturned closest to describing
by the Supreme Court 14% the current status of
and is no longer law the health reform law
that was passed in
58% 2010?
28% It is still the
Don’t law of the
know/
Refused
land
20
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls, February 29 – March 5, 2012

22. MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE THE INDIVIDUAL
MANDATE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
As you may know, the Supreme Court will hear arguments next month concerning a
requirement in the healthcare law that every American must buy health insurance or pay a
fine. Regardless of whether you favor or oppose the law, do you think this requirement is
constitutional or unconstitutional?
All Americans 20% 72%
Democrats 37% 56%
Independents 21% 70%
Republicans 6% 94%
Think healthcare law is a good thing 38% 54%
Think healthcare law is a bad thing 4% 94%
Constitutional Unconstitutional
21
Source: USA Today/Gallup Poll, February 20-21, 2012 Note: Don’t know / Refused answers not shown.

23. AS HEALTH CARE LAW’S TRIAL APPROACHES,
PLURALITY OF AMERICANS SAY DITCH ENTIRE LAW
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments about the health care law later this month. Of these
three options, which would you prefer to have the Supreme Court do: 1) uphold the entire law, 2)
throw out the part of the law that requires individuals to have coverage and keep the rest of the
law, or 3) throw out the entire law?
42%
26% 25%
7%
Uphold the law Throw out the Throw out the whole No opinion
mandate law
22
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, March 7-10, 2012

24. IF SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST ACA, SIX IN TEN
WANT LAWMAKERS TO KEEP WORKING ON PROPOSALS
If the Supreme Court rules that the health care law is unconstitutional, do you think
lawmakers should focus on developing new proposals to improve Americans’ access to
affordable health care, or should they stop talking about health care and focus on other
national problems?
All Americans 60% 34%
Democrats 72% 25%
Independents 57% 35%
Republicans 52% 43%
Focus on developing new proposals to improve Stop talking about health care and focus on
Americans’ access to affordable health care other national problems
23
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls, February 29 – March 5, 2012

25. The Players
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26. MAJORITY CONTINUE TO DISAPPROVE OF
OBAMA’S HANDLING OF HEALTH CARE
Obama Job Approval – Health Care
As of March 24
OPPOSE: 50%
FAVOR: 42%
President Obama signs health
care reform bill into law on
March 23, 2010
Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data, as of March 24, 2012

27. DEMOCRATS SEEN AS BETTER ON HEALTHCARE
THAN REPUBLICANS
And which party could
Both
do a better job of Republican Democratic Neither DK/Ref
Equally
[DEALING WITH Party Party (vol.) (vol.)
(vol.)
HEALTHCARE]?
Mar 7-11, 2012 35% 49% 1% 7% 8%
Sep 22-Oct 4, 2011 38% 49% 3% 4% 6%
Mar 30-Apr 3, 2011 40% 42% 6% 5% 7%
Oct 13-18, 2010 32% 39% 5% 11% 13%
Aug 25-Sep 6, 2010 36% 45% 5% 7% 6%
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Source: Pew Research Center For The People & The Press, March 7-11, 2012

28. GPG Research
GPG has a full-scale internal research team offering the full complement of qualitative and
quantitative public opinion research services. We use research to inform message
development and communication strategy, as well as to help clients assess and monitor
critical issues and track the effectiveness of strategic communication campaigns.
GPG has a deep experience conducting research about complex health care topics with
diverse audiences. We go beyond the standard Q&A, using innovative, projective techniques
to uncover key insights. The result is actionable research that helps shape our clients’
messaging and strategy.
For more information about this presentation or to find out more
about GPG’s research capabilities contact:
Susan Kannel (skannel@gpgdc.com) I Chris Gallup (cgallup@gpgdc.com)
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