Poll: Health law unpopular but not feared

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Attacked as a rationing scheme and praised as a lifesaver, President Barack Obama’s health-care law remains as divisive and confusing as ever. But a new poll finds Americans are less worried that the overhaul will undermine their own care.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the Associated Press-GfK poll shows that Americans are less concerned their own personal health care will suffer as a result of it.

Shortly after the law passed in 2010, 47 percent said they expected the quality of their care to worsen. Now just 32 percent say that’s their worry.

Most of the law’s major changes have yet to take effect, and dire predictions — of lost jobs, soaring premiums and long waits to see the doctor — have not materialized.

The poll found that 35 percent of Americans support the health-care overhaul, while 47 percent oppose it. That’s about the same split as when it passed. Then, 39 percent supported it and 50 percent opposed it.

Only about 3 in 10 say they understand the law extremely or very well. Most, 44 percent, say they understand it somewhat, and 29 percent say they understand it not too well or not well at all.