As Obamacare Turns 3 Years Old, Americans Still Have Big Misperceptions About What It Does

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/03/21/1753731/obamacare-misperceptions-poll/

As Obamacare Turns Three Years Old, Americans Still Have Big Misperceptions About What It Does

By Tara Culp-Ressler on Mar 21, 2013 at 9:05 am

snip//

In general, Americans are less likely to be aware that widely popular policies are included in Obamacare, like the provisions that provide tax credits for small businesses and that help make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. On the other hand, the public is much more likely to be able to attribute the less popular aspects of the law — like the individual mandate that compels every American to purchase insurance — to Obamacare:



The discrepancies are likely because of the ongoing, politicized misinformation campaign that’s been waged against Obamacare. Previous polling has shown that accurate knowledge about the health law tends to be divided along party lines: Democrats know more about what the law actually does than Independents do, and Independents know more than Republicans do. That’s been an issue for the health reform law since its inception. Before the Supreme Court handed down its decision to uphold the law, a slim majority of Americans said they opposed Obamacare as a whole — but when they were asked about its provisions separately, most of the law’s actual policies had broad support.

The tide is beginning to turn. Whereas Obamacare used to be solely associated with the negative fearmongering surrounding it, Democrats are now beginning to tout the health reform law’s accomplishments more confidently, hoping to raise awareness about its more popular provisions. Health care reform proponents are looking ahead to 2014 and beyond, when more Americans will start feeling the positive effects of Obamacare on their own lives. But there’s still a long way to go when it comes to educating the American people about the law.

[zipplewrath]

1. "Most" won't feel anything

Health care reform proponents are looking ahead to 2014 and beyond, when more Americans will start feeling the positive effects of Obamacare on their own lives.

"Most" people won't feel any particular effects. It was designed that way. Most people won't meet their lifetime limits. Most won't cover a child until 26. Most won't work for an employer that otherwise wouldn't have provided health care. Most won't be subject to the mandate. Probably the one thing that "the" most, and maybe a majority might "feel" will be some of the "covered at 100%" provisions for certain procedures and visits. Alot of plans already had those features, but not all by any stretch.

Sadly, "most" people will probably hear an explanation from their benefits departments at their employers that cost increases are "due to" Obamacare. It won't be particularly true, but they'll probably believe it.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. I'm most curious about the exchanges

My coverage as a state employee has gotten worse over the last few years and I'm hoping to maybe find a better plan once the exchanges start and get off of what I have now (HSA). Not having to pay $25/mo for birth control has been nice too

[santamargarita]

3. When does the affordable part kick in?

[bigdarryl]

4. Americans are some DUMB FUCKS!!!