CBS News/New York Times Poll For release: March 26, 2012 6:30 PM (ET)

Views on 2010 Health Care Law March 21-25, 2012 Two years after being passed, more Americans disapprove (47%) than approve (36%) of the 2010 health care law. Just one in 4 would like to see the Supreme Court uphold all aspects of the law. 51% disapprove of the individual mandate that nearly all Americans have health insurance coverage, including two in three Republicans. 45% approve. However, Americans are strongly in favor of some specific parts of the law: they approve of requiring companies to cover pre-existing conditions (85%), allowing parents to cover their children until age 26 (68%), and closing the Medicare donut hole (77%). 54% think the health care law represents too much government involvement in health care. Three in four think it at least somewhat likely that jobs will be lost as a result. Two years after the laws passage, nearly half are still confused about how it will affect them.

As the U.S. Supreme Court begins to hear arguments about the 2010 health care law, 38% say the entire law should be abolished, while another 29% would like the high court to strike down only the requirement that nearly all Americans obtain health insurance if they do not have it, and a quarter would like the whole law to stay in place. Supreme Court Should: Keep the entire law 26% Overturn mandate, but keep rest of law 29 Overturn entire law 38 When asked directly about one of the most controversial provisions of the health care law the mandate that nearly all Americans obtain coverage by 2014 51% disapprove of it, while 45% approve. Most Republicans and independents oppose the mandate, while Democrats support it. Requirement that Americans Have Health Insurance Total Reps Dems Inds Approve 45% 28% 65% 40% Disapprove 51 68 32 55 Two years after it was enacted, Americans continue to be skeptical about the health care law. 47% disapprove of it, including 30% who strongly disapprove. 36% of Americans approve of the law either somewhat or strongly. Since the health care law was passed in March 2010, more

have disapproved than approved of it. The highest level of support was reached in May 2010 when 43% of Americans approved of the law; the lowest level occurred just after it was passed in March 2010, when only 32% supported it. Views of the Health Care Law 12/2011 6/2011 10/2010 35% 37% 39% 51 48 43 14 15 18

Approve Disapprove DK/NA

Now 36% 47 17

5/2010 43% 47 10

3/2010 32% 53 15

Views on the law and what Americans would like to see the Supreme Court do about it break down along party lines. Most Republicans disapprove of the law and would like to see all of it overturned. Democrats support the law, and 39% want the Supreme Court to keep it in place, but almost as many want to see the health insurance mandate outlawed. Nearly half of independents disapprove of the health care law, and 36% would like the whole law overturned. Views of the Health Care Law by Party ID Reps Dems Health Care Law Approve Disapprove DK/NA Would like to see Supreme Court Keep the entire law Overturn mandate, but keep rest of law Overturn entire law Advantages At the same time, large percentages support specific elements of the health care law. Even majorities of Republicans favor these provisions. Views on Elements of Law Approve Disapprove Requiring insurance companies to cover those with pre-existing condition Reduces Medicare donut hole for prescription drugs Allows children under 26 to stay on parents plan 12% 76 12 56% 24 20

Inds 36% 47 17

9% 19 65

39% 35 18

26% 30 36

85%

12

77%

16

68%

28

And most of those who disapprove of the health care law overall approve of these specific changes too, although in smaller numbers.

Views on Elements of Law (among those who disapprove of health care law) Approve Disapprove Requiring insurance companies to cover those with pre-existing condition 76% 20 Reduces Medicare donut hole for prescription drugs Allows children under 26 to stay on parents plan

65%

28

56%

40

About one in five Americans say themselves or someone in their immediate family has benefitted from each of three provisions of the health care law that have already been enacted. Have Already Benefitted from Health Care Law Provision that Allows children under 26 to stay on parents plan 20% Special insurance coverage to people with pre-existing condition Reduces Medicare donut hole for prescription drugs

16%

15%

Among those with children age 18 to 26 who have health insurance, 31% say they have already benefitted from the provision that allows them to add their children to their own coverage. 70% of parents of children 18 to 26 approve of this change. 67% of seniors approve of the provision that offers assistance with the prescription drug donut hole, and 15% have already benefitted. But even among those who have benefitted from at least one of these three provisions (36%), there are mixed views of the health care law overall. 48% approve of it -- including just 21% who strongly approve -- and 35% disapprove. 17% dont have an opinion. Concerns But there are concerns too. 54% of Americans think the bills reforms will lead to too much government involvement in the health care system. 83% of Republicans think this is the case, as do 52% of independents. Views on this have changed little since March 2010. Law Lead to Government Involvement in Health Care Now Reps Dems Inds Too much 54% 83% 34% 52% Not enough 12 4 18 13 Right amount 27 9 42 26 Those who disapprove of the health care law are more apt to think it signals too much government involvement in health care (83%).

There are concerns about the impact on the economy as well. Three in four think it is likely that businesses will have to cut jobs as a result of the health care law. Likely Businesses will Have to Cut Jobs Due to Health Care Law? Very likely 39% Somewhat likely 34 Not too/not at all likely 25 The Personal Impact The personal impact of the law is also a concern; few Americans are convinced that it will benefit them personally. Only 19% think the law will mostly help them; most either think it will hurt them (31%) or not have much of an effect (43%). Half of Republicans think it will hurt them, while most Democrats believe it will have no effect on them personally. How Will the Health Care Law Affect You Personally? Now 12/2011 1/2011 3/2010 19% 13% 18% 17% 31 32 30 36 43 46 47 39

Help Hurt No effect

Americans concerns extend to the laws effect on their own medical care. As was the case in March 2010, just after the health care bill was signed into law, half of Americans expect the cost of their health care will eventually rise as a result. Just 15% expect their costs to decrease, and 27% expect the health care law will have no impact on their health care costs. 33% expect the quality of the care they receive will also get worse. Just 17% expect that will improve as a result of the 2010 law. Expectations are highly partisan. 76% of Republicans expect their costs to rise, and 59% expect the quality of their care to drop. Only 35% of Democrats expect a cost increase, and just 12% think the quality of their care will get worse. Among independents, 50% expect their costs to go up, and 34% expect the quality of their care will decline. How will Health Care Law Affect ? Now 3/2010 The cost of your health care Increase 52% 52% Decrease 15 14 No effect 27 27 The quality of your health care Get better Get worse No effect

17% 33 43

17% 39 38

And most Americans are at least somewhat concerned that their access to tests and treatment will be limited, and that they may be required to change doctors.

Concern about Changes in Care Due to Health Care Law Very Somewhat Concerned Concerned Your own access to tests, treatment will be limited 36% 30 You may be required to change doctors 41% 19

Not too/at all Concerned 33 40

Two years after the health care bill was signed into law, nearly half of Americans (48%) still say the effect it will have on themselves and their family is confusing to them. 47% now say they have a good understanding of the law up just six points since it was passed. Understand How Health Care Law Will Affect Your Family? Now 3/2010 Yes, understand 47% 41% No, its confusing 48 53 While much of the focus may be on the issue of health care this week, the economy is the publics top issue when it comes to the presidential election. 48% of Americans pick the economy as the most important issue, more than twice as many as choose health care (22%).
_________________________________________________________________________ This poll was conducted by telephone from March 21-25, 2012 among 986 adults nationwide. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL VIEWS ON 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW March 21-25, 2012 q1 In deciding who you would like to see elected President this year, which one of the following issues will be most important to you? 1. Abortion, 2. the federal budget deficit, 3. the economy, 4. health care, 5. illegal immigration, or 6.something else? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 3 7 3 2 11 11 9 12 48 50 52 45 22 18 23 23 5 6 4 6 7 4 7 10 4 4 2 2

Abortion Federal budget deficit Economy Health care Illegal immigration Something else Don't know/No answer q2 From what you've that was enacted in IF APPROVE, ASK: Do IF DISAPPROVE, ASK:

Jan12b % 3 15 56 14 5 6 1

heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the health care law 2010? you strongly approve or somewhat approve? Do you somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove? Dec11a 12 23 16 35 14

Strongly approve Somewhat approve Somewhat disapprove Strongly disapprove Don't know/No answer

16 20 17 30 17

3 9 14 62 12

28 28 17 7 20

15 21 18 29 17

q3 The U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments about the 2010 health care law next week. Which of the following would you like to see the Supreme Court do? 1. Keep the entire health care law in place, 2. Overturn the part of the law that requires Americans to obtain health insurance if they don't have it, but keep the rest of the law intact or 3. Overturn the entire health care law. Keep entire law Overturn mandate, but keep Overturn entire law Don't know/No answer q4 BLANK q5 From what you've heard or read, do you think the 2010 health care law will mostly help you personally, will mostly hurt you personally, or don't you think it will have much of an effect on you personally? Dec11a* 13 32 46 9 26 29 38 7 9 19 65 7 39 35 18 8 26 30 36 8

Help 19 6 Hurt 31 50 No effect 43 40 Don't know/No answer 7 4 *wording: the new health care reform law q6 BLANK

24 14 53 9

23 33 38 6

q7 Do you think the health care law will eventually increase your own health care costs, will eventually lower your own health care costs, or don't you think it will have much effect on your own health care costs? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind Mar10c1* % % % % % Increase 52 76 35 50 52 Decrease 15 4 22 16 14 No effect 27 15 33 29 27 DK/NA 6 5 10 5 7 *wording: From what you've heard or read, do you think the new health care reforms will q8 Do you think the health care law will make the quality of health care you receive better, (will make the quality of health care you receive worse, or don't you think it will have much effect on the quality of your health care? Better 17 7 32 12 17 Worse 33 59 12 34 39 No effect 43 31 48 47 38 DK/NA 7 3 8 7 6 *wording: From what you've heard or read, do you think the new health care reforms will q9 Do you feel you have a good understanding of how the 2010 health care law will affect you and your family, or is it confusing to you? Understand 47 52 Confusing 48 46 DK/NA 5 2 *wording: the new health care reform bill q10 BLANK q11 Do you approve or disapprove of a provision in the 2010 health care law that requires nearly all Americans to have health insurance coverage by 2014? Approve Disapprove DK/NA 45 51 4 28 68 4 65 32 3 40 55 5 40 55 5 49 43 8 41 53 6

q12 Do you approve or disapprove of a provision in the 2010 health care law that requires health insurance companies to cover those who may have an existing medical condition or prior illness? Approve Disapprove DK/NA 85 12 3 76 18 6 89 9 2 86 10 4

q13 Do you approve or disapprove of a provision in the 2010 health care law that allows children to stay on their parents' health insurance policies until the age of 26? Approve Disapprove DK/NA 68 28 4 58 39 3 81 16 3 64 32 4

q14 Previously, seniors had to pay the full cost of their prescription drugs once they reached the Medicare prescription drug coverage limit. Do you approve or disapprove of a provision in the 2010 health care law that offers discounts to reduce this Medicare prescription drug coverage gap, commonly called the donut hole? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 77 71 85 76 16 22 10 16 7 7 5 8

Approve Disapprove DK/NA q15-17 BLANK

q18 How concerned are you that under the health care law, your own access to medical tests and treatment may be more limited than it is now - very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not at all concerned? Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not too concerned Not at all concerned DK/NA 36 30 19 14 1 51 32 10 6 1 25 35 21 18 1 35 23 22 17 3

q19 How concerned are you that under the health care law, you may be required to change doctors - very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not at all concerned? Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not too concerned Not at all concerned DK/NA 41 19 20 20 0 59 18 13 9 1 30 22 24 23 1 37 17 21 24 1

q20 How likely do you think it is that under the health care law, many businesses will have to cut jobs because they may not be able to afford to provide insurance to all of their employees -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely or not at all likely? Very likely Somewhat likely Not too likely Not at all likely DK/NA 39 34 16 9 2 56 36 5 2 1 26 33 24 15 2 38 34 17 9 2

q21 As you may know, some provisions of the 2010 health care law have already gone into effect. Please tell me whether you or your immediate family have personally benefitted from each of the following provisions. Have you or your immediate family personally benefitted from the provision that allows parents to cover their children on their health insurance until the age of 26, or not? Yes, benefitted No, not benefitted DK/NA 20 77 3 23 76 1 23 75 2 17 80 3

q22 Have you or your immediate family personally benefitted from the provision that offers special insurance coverage to people with an existing medical condition or prior illness, or not? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 16 12 22 13 82 87 76 83 2 1 2 4

Yes, benefitted No, not benefitted DK/NA

q23 Have you or your immediate family personally benefitted from the provision that reduces the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap, commonly called the donut hole, or not? Yes, benefitted No, not benefitted DK/NA q24-25 BLANK q26 Do you think the health care law passed in 2010 creates too much government involvement in the health care system, not enough government involvement in the health care system, or about the right amount of government involvement in the health care system? Too much Not enough Right amount DK/NA 54 12 27 7 83 4 9 4 34 18 42 6 52 13 26 9 15 81 4 8 89 3 24 73 3 13 84 3

q27-28 BLANK q29-34 SEPARATE RELEASE q35-q64 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE q65 Do you have some form of health insurance or health care coverage, or not? Yes No DK/NA 87 13 0 93 7 0 87 13 0 84 15 1

q66 In the past 12 months, did you or anyone in your immediate family have problems paying or were unable to pay any medical bills? Yes, self Yes, someone else No DK/NA 19 12 69 0 UNWEIGHTED 986 254 350 382 15 10 75 0 19 12 69 0 WEIGHTED 20 14 65 1

Total Respondents: Total Republicans Total Democrats Total Independents

248 (25%) 318 (32%) 420 (43%)