Poll: Most Americans want changes to ObamaCare

Attitudes toward the ACA continue to be highly partisan. The act’s common name “Obamacare” highlights the degree to which it is attached to the Democratic president. The legislation, which was passed into law in 2010 despite “no” votes from all 178 Republican members of the House, became a point of contention between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the election. Not surprisingly, rank-and-file Democrats have consistently been much more likely to approve of the ACA than Republicans. This month, 7% of Republicans say they approve of the ACA, compared with 76% of Democrats. This is fairly typical of the partisan spread in approval measured prior to the election.

Seventy-one percent of Republicans disapprove of the law and want to repeal it, essentially in line with Trump’s campaign promise. Few Democrats want to see the ACA repealed and replaced. Instead, 59% of Democrats, including those who either approve or disapprove of the law in general, want to keep it with significant changes, mirroring Clinton’s campaign platform position. Twenty-six percent of Democrats approve of the ACA and want to keep it as is.