TO:

Interested Parties

FROM:

Geoff Garin & Guy Molyneux

DATE:

December 19, 2016

RE:

Key Survey Findings on the Republican ACA Repeal Bill

From December 4 to December 11, Hart Research Associates interviewed a

representative national cross section of 1,226 voters about the Republicans
proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Significant majorities of voters respond
unfavorably to several key aspects of the Republican bill, and these negative
reactions are shared by many Trump voters and rank-and-file Republican voters.
Moreover, the survey results also show a broad rejection of the Republicans
approach of tearing down the current law before showing Americans a replacement
plan.
Key aspects of the Republican healthcare repeal bill are opposed widely by
voters:
o

Eliminating the tax credits for people who buy private insurance (67%
oppose)

Eliminating requirement for companies with more than 50 employees to

provide health insurance (63% oppose)

Eliminating the funding for the expansion of coverage for low- and moderateincome Americans (61% oppose)

Proceeding with the repeal of many elements of the ACA even if Congress
fails to pass a replacement plan (57% oppose)

More than half (54%) of Republican voters oppose the elimination of the tax
credits to help people buy private insurance, and two in five Republicans oppose
each of the three other provisions mentioned above.
Voters also have an unfavorable reaction to ending the requirement for coverage
of preventive services such as cancer screenings and birth control (65%
unfavorable). This is a particularly strong issue among women voters, including
non-college-educated white women (68% unfavorable, including 53% very
unfavorable).
The inclusion of a cutoff of government funding for Planned
Parenthood in the reconciliation bill would add more fuel to the fire against the
Republicans bill: 60% of voters overall oppose cutting off funds for Planned
Parenthood, including 65% of women.
Several other consequences of the healthcare repeal bill also are highly
concerning to the public, including majorities of independents and large shares of
rank-and-file Republicans. Among the criticisms of the Republicans approach that
resonate most strongly with the public are:

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Hart Research Associates

Nearly all Republican repeal plans would reduce the current protections
for people with pre-existing conditions, and would let insurance
companies deny them coverage or charge them more if they had a lapse
in coverage for some reason.

Nearly all the Republican repeal plans will allow insurance companies to
charge people in their 50s and early 60s much more for their coverage
than is currently allowed.

People who purchase their own insurance will be hit with a tax increase
averaging $3,800 a year, because the Republican repeal plan eliminates
the tax credits that help them afford coverage.

The proposal will increase private insurance premiums by more than 50%,
according to the experts who have studied similar plans.

The proposal delays a replacement healthcare plan for years, but it

immediately enacts a $500 billion tax cut that only goes to corporations
and the wealthy.

The survey results make it clear that Americans believe it is reckless to repeal
the current healthcare law without first having a plan to replace it. By a strong 20point margin (60% to 40%), voters say that, It is wrong for Congress to repeal
Obamacare before it tells us specifically what its plan is to replace it, and reject
the argument that, it is important to commit now to repealing Obamacare, and two
years is enough time to determine the best replacement plan.
Republicans may promise that subsequent legislation will prevent the negative
consequences of repeal, but voters are skeptical of their repeal and delay
promises, with 62% having little or no confidence that Congress will ever pass a
good replacement plan in the wake of repeal. Thats why 72% of Americans agree
(including 53% who strongly agree) with this basic demand of Congress:
Before tearing anything down, Congress should show us their plan to
replace our healthcare.

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