Poll: Opposition To Health Reform Declines; Seniors View New Law More Negatively Than Adults Overall

The Washington Post: "Opposition to the landmark health care overhaul declined over the past month, to 35 percent from 41 percent, according to the latest results of a tracking poll, reported Thursday. Fifty percent of the public held a favorable view of the law, up slightly from 48 percent a month ago, while 14 percent expressed no opinion about the measure, according to the poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The approval level was the highest for the legislation since it was enacted in March, after a divisive year-long debate. In April, the poll found 46 percent in favor and 40 percent opposed" (Hilzenrath, 7/29).

The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: "The positive numbers play heavily into this fall's impending midterm elections, in which Republicans and Democrats will jockey over the reforms in the healthcare bill. Most Republicans have said they want to repeal the legislation and replace it with different reforms, while Democrats have opted to highlight the benefits in the bill that would be threatened by a GOP-led repeal" (O'Brien, 7/29).

The Washington Post's Behind The Numbers Blog: The poll "shows that senior citizens remain more negative than younger adults toward the health care overhaul passed earlier this year and are more apt to say that the bill will have a negative effect on Medicare and those in their age group." The post explains that seniors have tended to be "more negative than younger adults" about the changes resulting from health reform. "The poll suggests that older Americans' negative feelings about the bill may rest on perceptions that it will make it more difficult and expensive for those on Medicare to access health care" (Agiesta, 7/29).  

Kaiser Health News: "Seniors, a key target of both political parties this election season, tend to view the new health law more negatively than adults overall; however, they also are unaware of many of the Medicare provisions in the overhaul and have been left with erroneous perceptions by the bitter legislative debate, according to the survey, which was released today. About 38 percent say they support the law, while 46 percent of seniors view it unfavorably -- a drop of 10 points since April" (Verdon, 7/29).