Poll: Voters still don't know what's in Obama health law

Three years after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, the public continues to have a poor understanding of the reforms and how they will affect them.

The latest tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that the public still doesn't understand what's in the healthcare law — and what voters do know is mostly negative.

The findings indicate that Republicans have done a far better job defining the healthcare law than Democrats: the more popular a provision is, the less likely people are to realize it's included in the ACA.

For example, 88 percent said they have a favorable view of tax credits to help small businesses buy healthcare coverage. But only 52 percent knew the law provides such tax credits, putting it near the bottom of the specific policies Kaiser surveyed.

By contrast, 74 percent were aware of the law's individual mandate, while just 40 percent said they like that policy. Awareness also outstripped support for the policy requiring large employers to provide healthcare coverage or pay a penalty.

Misinformation about the healthcare law is also widespread, the latest tracking poll found. Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed incorrectly stated that the law includes a "public option," which it doesn't. Forty percent believe there's a new government panel making decisions about end-of-life care — a spin on the notorious "death panels" charge leveled by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R).

Forty-four percent said the law cuts Medicare benefits, compared with 43 percent who correctly said the law does not include benefit cuts.

The findings illustrate the challenge the Obama administration has ahead of it as it aims to raise awareness of new benefits before they take effect next year.

Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed said they don't have enough information about how the law will affect them personally, and awareness is lowest among the people the healthcare law will benefit most.

Among the uninsured, 67 percent said they don't have enough information about how the law will affect them, as did 68 percent of low-income respondents.

Those are the two groups most likely to be eligible for new subsidies to buy private insurance or for the law's Medicaid expansion.

Overall, public opinion of the healthcare law remains divided — 40 percent said they have an unfavorable view of the law, compared with 37 percent who have a favorable view.

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