Opposition to Obamacare Repeal Increases Between November and January Among Obamacare Enrollees but Support for Republican Reforms Remains Strong, According to eHealth Survey
People on Obamacare overwhelmingly support more flexible benefits
(89%) and expanded access to tax credits (88%), and they feel they’re
paying too much for coverage (78%); however, opposition to an Obamacare
repeal increased from 27% to 40% between
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79% of Obamacare enrollees say coverage is too expensive. (Graphic: Business Wire)
Results from the surveys show overwhelming support among Obamacare enrollees for several Republican proposals that would allow consumers more freedom in choosing health insurance plans with the benefits they think will best meet their needs.
However, between
Highlights from the surveys:
- People want to choose their benefits: Respondents to the January survey felt strongly that people should be able to choose the benefits they want covered under their health insurance plan (89%)
- Coverage is too costly: In January, 78% of respondents said their health insurance premiums were too expensive; even among respondents who said they used tax credits (Obamacare subsidies) to help them pay for their health plan, 58% still felt their coverage cost too much
- People want broader access to tax credits: In January, nearly nine-in-ten respondents (88%) indicated support for broader consumer access to tax credits, regardless of their income
-
Increased support for Obamacare: In
January 2017 , 43% of respondents said that Obamacare had been good for themselves or their family; only 34% felt the same in November - Disapproval for Obamacare mandates and penalties: Among January respondents, strong majorities felt that no one should be required to purchase health insurance (60%) or face a tax penalty for going uninsured (67%), though these figures had declined since November (72% and 76% respectively)
“It’s interesting to see what changes in public opinion and what
doesn’t. Our customers have consistently been unhappy with the cost and
benefit structure of the Affordable Care Act, but feelings about
repealing the ACA has shifted in the last few months,” said eHealth
CEO Scott Flanders. “If you’re a Republican in
Mr. Flanders continued: “The things that have not shifted over time are
concerns about high costs, support for more flexible benefits and
expanded access to tax credits. These are cornerstones of
Over 4,400 eHealth customers who were enrolled in an Obamacare health
insurance plan completed the survey in
Select survey responses with
"Do you support President-elect Donald Trump's plans to repeal and/or replace Obamacare?" |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES |
JANUARY RESPONSES |
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Yes - 50% | Yes - 46% | |||
No - 27% |
No - 40% |
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I don't know - 23% | I don't know - 14% | |||
"Which of the following sentences best expresses your feelings about the cost of your health insurance plan?" |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
It's too expensive - 79% | It's too expensive - 78% | |||
It's affordable - 21% | It's affordable - 22% | |||
"People should get to choose the benefits they want covered by their health insurance plan." |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 92% | I agree - 89% | |||
"People should be able to buy a health insurance plan that doesn't cover maternity care." |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 78% | I agree - 76% | |||
"People should be able to buy a health insurance plan that doesn't cover brand name prescription drugs." |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 73% | I agree - 61% | |||
"People should be able to buy a health insurance plan that doesn't cover pediatric services." | ||||
NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 78% | I agree - 79% | |||
"People should be able to buy a plan that doesn't cover mental health care.” |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 60% | I agree - 59% | |||
"When it comes to ‘Trumpcare,’ what issue are you most interested in or do you have the most questions about?" |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES* | JANUARY RESPONSES* | |||
Pre-existing conditions - 26% | Pre-existing conditions - 36% | |||
Refundable tax credits / subsidies - 18% | Refundable tax credits / subsidies -11% | |||
Buying across state lines - 17% | Buying across state lines - 16% | |||
No mandate/penalty for being uninsured - 15% | No mandate/penalty for being uninsured - 12% | |||
Other - 9% | Other - 14% | |||
Medicare - 8% | Medicare - 6% | |||
Small business coverage - 7% | Small business coverage - 6% | |||
Medicaid block grants - 1% | Medicaid block grants - 0% | |||
"People should not be denied health insurance because they have a pre-existing medical condition." |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 82% | I agree - 92% | |||
"No one should be legally required to buy health insurance." | ||||
NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 72% | I agree - 60% | |||
"No one should pay a tax penalty for being uninsured." |
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NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 76% | I agree - 67% | |||
"Adult children should be able to stay on their parents' health insurance plan until age 26." | ||||
NOVEMBER RESPONSES | JANUARY RESPONSES | |||
I agree - 68% | I agree - 73% | |||
Methodology.
These survey results are based on a voluntary nationwide email survey of
eHealth customers conducted
Notes:
*Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
eHealth
For more health insurance news and information, visit eHealth's Consumer Resource Center.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170124005472/en/
Source:
DMA Communications for eHealth, Inc.
Sande Drew, 916-207-7674
sande.drew@ehealth.com
or
eHealth,
Inc.
Nate Purpura, 650-210-3115
nate.purpura@ehealth.com