Poll finds ACA support climbs amid repeal talk

Support for the ACA is at its highest level since shortly after the law passed in 2010, a new national poll found (Source: “Support For Health Law Grows, Leaving Republicans In A Bind,” Kaiser Health News, Feb. 24, 2017).

The monthly tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds overall support for the health law ticked up to 48 percent in February, a 5-point increase since the last poll in December.

In addition, 6 in 10 people said they did not favor current GOP proposals for turning control of Medicaid, the federal-state program for low-income residents, over to the states or changing the federal funding method. More than half said Medicaid is important to them or family members.

The increase in the law’s popularity is almost entirely due to a spike in support among independents, whose approval of the law has risen to 50 percent, compared with 39 percent unfavorable. Continuing a trend that dates to the passage of the law, the vast majority of Democrats approve of it (73 percent), while the vast majority of Republicans disapprove (74 percent).