Chart of the week: One-quarter of Americans hurt by ObamaCare

According to the most recent Gallup survey, almost one-quarter of Americans believe that the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has directly harmed them or their family. But that is only part of the story. A scant 14 percent believe that the law has helped them. These results might have important implications for bolstering political support...

According to the most recent Gallup survey, almost one-quarter of Americans believe that the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has directly harmed them or their family. But that is only part of the story.

A scant 14 percent believe that the law has helped them. These results might have important implications for bolstering political support for changing the law. According to the Gallup analysis of these findings:

“That so few believe the healthcare law has had a positive impact on their lives could mean most Americans would not be upset if lawmakers change the law. Democrats running for office this year appear to be adopting a “keep and improve” position that acknowledges that the law needs changes. The Republican House announced Wednesday that it plans to put forward its own healthcare plan for a vote this year that would radically change how the healthcare system works. This proposal almost certainly has little chance of becoming law this year, and it is far from clear if the proposed plan would be any more popular than Obamacare. But given the widespread perception that Obamacare has not benefitted Americans so far, politicians on both sides of the aisle would appear to have little to lose by advocating changes to some elements of the law.”

In the run up to the November midterm elections, Americans’ views that the law has hurt them or their family could actually increase. That is because premium rates for 2015 could be dramatically higher in many markets across the country, many will be facing policy cancellations of their current group health plans and taxpayers are becoming increasingly aware that health insurers participating in the ObamaCare exchanges could receive federal bailouts.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle already understand that the vast majority of Americans are disappointed, at best, with the results of the president’s signature law. The question is whether they understand that Americans want solutions that give individuals control over their health care decisions and allow them to select options that best meet their own needs and preferences, rather than government knows best dictates.