New Poll: 32 Percent Still Like Federal Health Care Law

Although the public may support President Obama's proposal to change the way Social Security benefits are calculated, the president's health care law enjoys only tepid support. The latest Reason-Rupe pollfinds only 32 percent of Americans say they liked the health care law when it was passed and still like it today. Seven percent liked the law when it was passed, but like it less now. Meanwhile, 45 percent disliked the health care law when it was passed and still dislike it. Four percent of Americans say they disliked the law when it passed, but like it more now. In sum, 52 percent are disappointed with the new health care law. 

Not surprisingly, opinions about the health care law map closely to strength of ones' partisanship. Sixty percent of partisan Democrats say they liked the law when it passed and still like it, compared to 43 percent of Independent-leaning Democrats. Eighty-two percent of partisan Republicans say they disliked the law when it passed and they still dislike it, as well as 80 percent of Independent-leaning Republicans. Non-partisan Independents side with Republicans with 57 percent who say they still dislike the law.

Higher levels of educational attainment are positively correlated with support for the health care law; but income is not signficantly correlated.

Younger Americans are more likely to still like rather than dislike the health care law. Yet, when taking race into account, a plurality of white millennials still dislike the law (42 to 32) whereas a plurality of non-white millenials still like the law 45 to 18. Nevertheless, white millenials are nearly 20 points less likely to dislike the health care law compared to their older peers (42 to 60). Moreover, older white and non-white Americans are more likely than younger Americans to dislike the new heath care law. These data suggest that both age and race/ethnicity have independent effects on support for the health care law.

A majority (55 percent) of white Americans still dislike the health care law, while 71 percent of African-Americans still like the law. Latinos are evenly divided with 33 percent who still dislike the law and 29 percent who still support it. Taking into account race and gender, only a majority (52 percent) of non-white females still like the health care law, compared to 40 percent of non-white males 26 percent of white females, and 23 percent of white males.

Nationwide telephone poll conducted May 9-13 2013 interviewed 1003 adults on both mobile (503) and landline (500) phones, with a margin of error +/- 3.7%. Princeton Survey Research Associates International executed the nationwide Reason-Rupe survey. Columns may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Full poll results found here. Full methodology can be found here. Demographics and detailed tables are available here.