As expectations rise that the Supreme Court will slap down the federal subsidies to help low- to moderate-income Americans get health insurance, a new poll finds that voters want the system reformed and would reward politicians to come up with a fix.
The Public Policy Polling survey found that 61 percent of Americans believe that those eligible for subsidies should be able to get them no matter what state they live in.
What’s more, the poll done for the progressive group Americans United For Change finds that most, no matter which party, want the law fixed to provide subsidies even if they are struck down by the court.
Republicans want Obamacare subsidies in some states ended. AP Photo
At issue in the court case King v. Burwell is whether subsidies should be made available to those in states that haven’t adopted Obamacare. The court challenge claims that the Obamacare law states that subsidies can only be given to those in health insurance exchanges “established by the state,” and not those run by the federal government in states that snubbed the president’s program.
A key element of the poll, detailed below, is the finding that voters will vote for lawmakers who fix Obamacare. Said the PPP analysis, “Acting to fix the Affordable Care Act and make sure that no one loses their affordable care is a big winner politically. 62% of voters say they’d be more likely to cast their ballot for an official who voted to ensure that everyone at similar income levels would be eligible to receive the same subsidies regardless of what state they live in, compared to only 28% who say they’d be less likely to vote someone who supported that fix.”
Other key findings:
• Voters across party lines think everyone should be eligible for the same subsidies no matter what state they live in. Democrats (74/20), independents (56/38), and Republicans (49/41) all subscribe to that outlook.
• A majority of voters nationally don’t want anyone to have their health insurance subsidies taken away- only 37% are ok with 6.5 million people losing their subsidies while 51% don’t think they should. That includes a majority of critical independent voters who stand against eligible recipients losing their subsidies.
• If the Supreme Court rules with the Republicans on the ACA lawsuit, 62% of voters want Congress to fix the law to ensure that all Americans continue to be eligible for the same health insurance subsidies regardless of what state they live in. That’s a bipartisan sentiment- Democrats (76/21), independents (57/33), and Republicans (50/38) all want Congress to act to make sure no one loses their subsidies.
• Republican Congressmen in particular could pay a price politically if the lawsuit succeeds and they don’t enact a fix to make sure no one loses their current subsidies. 41% of voters say they’d be less likely to vote for a Republican who didn’t vote to fix the Affordable Care Act, compared to only 31% who say they’d be more likely to. If people lose their subsidies that has the potential to be an issue that really hurts GOP candidates at the polls next year.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 530 registered voters on June 4th and 5th on behalf of Americans United For Change. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.3%.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
