The 2016 Presidential Election was chock full of mixed signals, including in the world of healthcare. While Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton had plans to maintain the Affordable Care Act with some modifications, Republican nominee-turned-President Elect Donald Trump stated that he fully intended to repeal the ACA.
Once Trump won the election, his tune changed. Stating he’d retain the “good parts” of the ACA, he furthered that announcement with additional plans that would suggest the ACA isn’t being repealed after all. The true fate of the Affordable Care Act is still hanging in the balance, but how do Americans feel?
In a study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), it appears as though most Americans would much rather the ACA stay. Three out of four Americans want the ACA to remain, with just one out of four wanting it repealed. Of those one out of four Americans, about 42 percent prefer the ACA remains pending a new healthcare platform in its place.
The KFF study also shows how Republican popular opinion of the ACA has shifted since the election results. Before Trump’s win, 11% of Republicans preferred the ACA be dialed back some and not repealed; that number has since jumped to 24%. Likewise, prior to the Republican candidate’s victory, 69% of Republicans wanted the ACA repealed; since the win, the number has dropped to 52%.
KFF also found that 68% of their respondents felt that healthcare was a major factor in whom they chose to vote into office. Of the Trump voters, 52% believe their healthcare costs will get better, while 39% believe the quality of their healthcare will get better—with 71% believing Trump’s healthcare plans will help the entire country.
It’s certainly a curious case, considering no firm health care plans are in place on behalf of Trump. However, the study reflects that those who were against the ACA are seemingly for it until a better option is in place.
To view the Kaiser Family Foundation study, click here.