When asked what best describes their feelings about the ACA today, 43 percent say that something should be done to lower the cost of ACA coverage. (Photo: Getty)
As fate of the Affordable Care Act is decided with the landmark case, Texas v. United States – and as a number of Democratic presidential candidates argue for Medicare for All, people with current ACA coverage weigh in on how they feel about health care in eHealth's survey report, "ACA Consumers on the Future of Coverage."
eHealth conducted a voluntary survey and received responses from 801 individuals who bought ACA-compliant individual or family health insurance plans from eHealth, some with and some without government subsidies. Respondents shared their sentiments about the ACA, coverage options if the ACA were invalidated, and political proposals touching on Medicare and the future of health care in the U.S.
When asked what best describes their feelings about the ACA today, 43 percent say that something should be done to lower the cost of ACA coverage; 19 percent are happy with the ACA as it is; 17 percent think the ACA should be thrown out entirely; 14 percent want ACA plans to have broader provider networks.
Not surprisingly, the unsubsidized are more likely to say costs should be reduced: 47 percent of those not receiving government premium subsidies say that costs should be lowered, compared to 35 percent of those receiving government premium subsidies.
Subsidy recipients are more likely to be happy with the ACA as it is: 29 percent report satisfaction, compared to 15 percent of those not receiving subsidies.
When asked if the ACA were to be scrapped and their plan discontinued, what would they do for coverage, 36 percent say they would look for less costly alternatives like short-term coverage; 31 percent say they would go uninsured; and 20 percent say they would enroll in employer-based coverage.
Two-thirds of subsidy recipients say they would go uninsured without the ACA: 66 percent of respondents receiving government premium subsidies say they will likely go uninsured if the ACA was scrapped and their plan canceled, compared to 16 percent of the unsubsidized.
When asked if the ACA were to be revised, which of the elements should be retained, 77 percent would retain coverage for pre-existing conditions; 65 percent would retain coverage for mental health care; 63 percent would retain maternity coverage; 57 percent would retain birth control coverage; 57 percent would retain premium subsidies; and 47 percent would retain coverage for drug and alcohol treatment.
When asked should all Americans have access to Medicare or Medicare-like coverage, 59 percent percent say yes to all; 8 percent say they do not believe all Americans should have access; 21 percent say only people age 55 and older should have access to Medicare, on a buy-in basis; and 11 percent weren't sure.
Younger consumers are more likely to support expansion of Medicare-like coverage: 67 percent of people age 25 to 34 say that all Americans should have access to Medicare or Medicare-like coverage, compared to 46 percent of people age 55 to 64.
Older adults more likely to support Medicare buy-in: Consumers age 55 to 64 are more likely to support buy-in access to Medicare at age 55 and older than people age 25 to 34 (36 percent vs. 13 percent).
A strong majority of ACA enrollee voters consider health care a top factor in their votes for the 2020 election: 14 percent say health care is their top concern when it comes to voting in 2020, and 70 percent say that it is within their top three concerns, though it wasn't their top concern. However, 11 percent say they worry most about having access to network doctors and hospitals.
About 8.7 million people enrolled in health plans for 2019 through the federal HealthCare.gov, a decline of about 4 percent from 2018, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
