Health Care Update Archive

Voters Still See Dismal Future For Health Care System

Voters are less satisfied with the health care they personally receive and remain pessimistic that the national health care law will make the system any better.

Obamacare Still Struggles In Court of Public Opinion

Despite its recent victory in the U.S. Supreme Court, the president’s health care law is still disliked by most voters who expect it to worsen the quality of care and make it more expensive.

Should Free Market Preside Over Health Care?

When it comes to health care reform, voters continue to think an overall reduction in costs is more important than guaranteeing that everyone has insurance -- but they would prefer that the government keep their hands off and leave it up to some healthy competition to solve the problem.

Few Voters Favor Keeping Health Care Law As Is

Obamacare remains the law of the land, but most voters still want to make major changes in it or dump it completely.

Most Voters Oppose Obamacare’s Insurance Requirement

Opposition to Obamacare’s requirement that every American have health insurance is over 50% for the first time in months, even as more voters report that someone in their family has purchased health insurance through one of the exchanges established under the new law.

Voters Call for More Insurance Options Than Health Care Law Allows

Most voters still don’t like Obamacare and want more freedom in their health insurance choices than the law currently gives them.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of Likely U.S. Voters view the national health care law unfavorably, with 37% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of it. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% regard the law favorably, including 19% with a Very Favorable view. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 23 and 26, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.0 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Voters See Quality of Health Care Going Down

Voters are increasingly critical of the health care they get and predict it will get even worse under the new national health care law.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 70% of Likely U.S. Voters still rate the quality of the health care they receive as good or excellent. That’s down just one point from January but is the lowest finding in nearly two-and-a-half years of regular surveying. These positives have generally run in the high 70s and low 80s for most of this period but have been trending down since the first of the year.

Only six percent (6%), however, rate the care they get as poor, consistent with findings in past surveys. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 9 and 12, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Costs Up, Quality Down: How Voters Still See Obamacare

Five years after its passage by Congress, attitudes about the national health care law remain largely unchanged: Voters expect it to increase health care costs and hurt the quality of care. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 26 and 29, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Costs Are Biggest Health Care Problem for Most, and Feds Can’t Help

Most voters continue to put reducing health care costs ahead of requiring everyone to have health insurance and think keeping the government out of the market is the best way to reduce those costs. But support for tort reform is down.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that when it comes to reforming health care in this country, 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe reducing the cost of health care is more important than making sure that everyone has health insurance. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree and feel it is more important to mandate universal health insurance. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 12 and 15, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Voters Less Hot for Obamacare Fix

Voters still tend to share an unfavorable opinion of the new national health care law and say it has hurt more than helped them. They’re also less enthusiastic this month about fixing the law rather than repealing it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a  free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 28-March 1, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Like Health Insurance But Not If It’s Mandated

Most have health insurance they like, but voters still balk at the federal government forcing Americans to get this type of insurance.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government should require every American to buy or obtain health insurance. But a plurality (47%) disagrees and opposes the so-called individual mandate that is a key element of the new national health care law. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 14-15, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Are Less Supportive of Government-Imposed Levels of Health Insurance

Voters are more critical of the health care they personally receive but still don’t expect it to get better under Obamacare. Most think consumers are better off with less government involvement in the health care marketplace.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the U.S. health care system in general as good or excellent. Twenty-eight percent (28%) regard the system as poor. This is consistent with voter attitudes since mid-2013. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Complain More About Health Care And Aren’t Optimistic

Voters are more critical of the health care they personally receive but still don’t expect it to get better under Obamacare. Most think consumers are better off with less government involvement in the health care marketplace.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the U.S. health care system in general as good or excellent. Twenty-eight percent (28%) regard the system as poor. This is consistent with voter attitudes since mid-2013. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 3-4, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters View Obamacare More Favorably

Voters are nearly tied in their opinions of the new national health care law, Obamacare’s best showing since just before its official rollout in November 2013. But voters still expect the quality of health care to suffer and costs to go up as a result of the law.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters now have a favorable opinion of the law, while 49% view it unfavorably. This includes 18% with a Very Favorable view and 34% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 3-4, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Few Have Bought Health Insurance Through New Exchanges

Voters end the year with little personal experience with the health insurance exchanges established under the new health care law.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters say they or any member of their immediate family have bought health insurance through one of the new exchanges. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 28, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Remain Strongly Pro-Choice When It Comes To Health Insurance

Most voters continue to hold a negative opinion of Obamacare and remain committed to the belief that consumers should have choices when it comes to health insurance. They also still strongly belief employers and individuals should be able to buy health insurance across state lines.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters now have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the national health care law, while 53% view it unfavorably. These findings are generally consistent with surveys since early 2013 and include 17% with a Very Favorable opinion and 38% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 19-20, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Still Expect Health Care System to Suffer Under Obamacare

Voters still strongly approve of the health care they are getting, but most also remain convinced that it will get worse under the new national health care law.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 78% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the quality of health care they now receive as good or excellent. Only five percent (5%) consider that care to be poor. (To see survey question wording, click here).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 13-14, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Remain Skeptical of Obamacare’s Costs

Stupid or not, most voters continue to believe the new national health care law will cost the government more than projected and will push up health care costs for all Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the health care law, while 52% view it unfavorably. This includes 17% who have a Very Favorable view versus 36% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 5-6, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Obamacare – Back from the Brink of Repeal?

Most voters for the first time want Congress to fix the new national health care law rather than repeal it.

Given the problems with the new law, 30% of Likely U.S. Voters still think Congress should repeal it entirely and start over again. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% prefer instead that Congress go through the law piece by piece and improve it. Just 13% want to leave the law as is. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 30, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

35% Say They’ve Been Hurt By Obamacare

A growing number of voters say their health insurance coverage has changed as a result of the new national health care law, and the most in over a year now say that change has been negative.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now say their health insurance coverage has changed because of the law, up one point from last month. That number has been steadily climbing from 25% a year ago when the law made its public debut. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 22-23, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.