Donald Trump has vowed to clean up that little mess called the Affordable Care Act. And more Americans want to see him throw down whatever it is he has for health care as soon as he takes office, rating such action ahead of jobs and immigration.
That’s the word from a Reuters/Ipsos poll of U.S. voters, who were asked to disclose their expectations for the incoming president.
However, only one in five—21 percent—ranked health care reform as their top priority for the real estate mogul. “Jobs” as a priority was actually close behind, at 16 percent, while Trump’s favorite hobby horse, immigration, trailed at 14 percent.
But the poll showed that most Americans don’t want Trump to repeal the act. Only 37 percent believe the ACA should be repealed, suggesting that Trump and his fellow party members had best tread carefully lest they put their Congressional majorities in jeopardy early in Trump's term.
Thus Reuters’ data, and anecdotal information from interviews with respondents, indicate that people want to see what’s up Trump’s health-care sleeve so they can begin to pass judgment on what has so far been a no-show reform plan.
The survey revealed that many are unhappy with certain aspects of the reform act and the way it has unfolded. One woman spoke for many when she told Reuters somebody needed to put the “affordable” into the affordable care act.
“We can't afford it - that's the problem,” Daphne Saunders, of LaFollette, TN, told the pollsters. She said the least expensive coverage she could find on the health care exchanges would cost her $450 per month plus a $50 co-pay per doctor visit. “Those premiums should be more manageable. I would expect to pay no more than $100.”
The pollsters also reported that, in the wake of the divisive election in which fewer voters than usual participated, a few more folks are ready to get off their duffs and vote next time. Slightly less than half (45 percent) said they “feel more motivated” to vote in future elections, and 42 percent said they’ve vowed to follow politics more closely so they can be better informed voters.
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
