Public Opinion on the Affordable Care Act Remains Divided, New Data Shows
Washington D.C. – As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) approaches its 14-year anniversary, public perception of the landmark healthcare law remains sharply divided, according to recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). While a meaningful portion of Americans report the ACA has positively impacted their access to healthcare, a substantial minority believe it has increased costs or created other difficulties. These diverging views highlight the ongoing political and personal stakes surrounding the future of healthcare in the United States.
The ACA, signed into law in 2010, aimed to expand health insurance coverage and make healthcare more affordable. Tho, its implementation has been met with consistent debate and legal challenges. Understanding current public opinion is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders as they consider potential changes to the healthcare landscape. Here are five charts illustrating key findings from KFF polling data:
1. A Significant Portion of Adults Report Pre-Existing Conditions
Approximately half of U.S. adults (51%) report that they or someone in their household has a pre-existing health condition. This figure underscores the importance of ACA provisions protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage or charged higher premiums.
[Image: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/DU6ay/full.png – About Half Of Adults Say They Or Someone In Their Household Has A Pre-Existing Health Condition]
2. Roughly a Quarter Say the ACA Has Helped Them
KFF polling from March 2022 reveals that about a quarter of the public (26%) says the ACA has helped them and their family, while one in five (20%) say the law has hurt them.
[Image: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YNULN/full.png – Half Of Those Who Say ACA Helped them And Their Families Say It Allowed Them To Get Health Coverage]
3. Increased Access to Coverage is the Primary Benefit Cited
Among those who say the ACA has helped them, nearly half (48%, or 12% of total adults) cite allowing someone in their family to get or keep their health coverage as the main benefit. Three in ten (30%, or 7% of total) say the law has made it easier to get the healthcare they need, and one in five (20%, or 5% of total) report lowered healthcare or insurance costs.
[Image: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YNULN/full.png – Half Of Those Who Say ACA Helped Them And Their Families say It Allowed Them To Get Health Coverage]
4. Perception of ACA’s Impact on Access Varies by Partisanship
A February 2024 KFF Health Tracking Poll found that 39% of adults believe the ACA has made it easier for people like them to get health insurance, while 23% say it has made it more challenging. However, this perception is heavily influenced by political affiliation, with Democrats (60%) being almost three times as likely as Republicans (22%) to report a positive impact on access.
5. Increased Costs are the Primary Concern for Those Negatively Impacted
Among the 20% of U.S.adults who say the ACA has hurt them and their families, the majority (59%, or 12% of total) attribute this to increased costs of healthcare or health insurance. Smaller shares cite difficulties accessing care (22%, or 5% of total) or loss of coverage (11%, or 2% of total). These findings reflect the ongoing challenges Americans face with healthcare affordability.
[Image: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/L1FCp/full.png – Most Of Those Who say ACA Hurt Them And Their Families Say It Increased Their Health care Costs]
