The interesting numbers from the monthly Kaiser tracking poll aren’t the public’s like or dislike for health reform, but the rather impressive level of ignorance about reform that persists even now, a year after passage.
Here are a few ‘highlights’.
– half the country (52 percent) is aware the health reform law is still the law of the land, just over one in five Americans (22 percent) think health reform has been repealed and is no longer the law and another quarter (26 percent) aren’t sure either way.
– 59% think the law creates a new government health plan – which it doesn’t
– 40% think it allows the government to make end of life care decisions for Medicare beneficiaries
– 45% believe the law cuts Medicare benefits previously provided to all beneficiaries – which it doesn’t
And it isn’t just the ‘average American’ who’s confused.
This was brought home to me in a conversation I had with a very well educated business person earlier this week – trained as an economist, this individual is in the health information management sector. He wasn’t aware of some of the rather basic provisions of the reform bill, and misconstrued others.
My sense is most of the debate about health reform ignores what’s really in – and not in – the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Instead, there are heated arguments about topics, provisions, themes, taxes, limits, intrusions that are based on not much more than “I read this on the internet or heard it on talk radio’.
To test your own knowledge about reform, take this quick quiz. Not to worry, scores won’t be posted on the class bulletin board.
Full disclosure – I scored nine out of ten…
Mar
24
People have no knowledge about the health reform bill. Many still think that the government will kill off anyone over 70 years old. They will destroy Medicare and some believe that Hawaii is not a state. Poor education on the part of the Democrats. The far Republican right are against anything that is “reform;” health, finance, etc.
Thanks, Joe
I will forward this to several of my “Obamacare haters.” It may be instructive to them.
(I got them all)
It seems less that they don’t know anything, than that what they “know” is the anti-reform propaganda: “socialized medicine,” “death panels,” “killing Medicare.” The anti- side managed to so fill the air with falsehoods and distractions that the actual facts have been obscured.
Joe this is a great discovery tool. 9 out of 10 for me as well…osmosis works!
“You answered 10 out of 10 questions correctly, better than 99.6% of Americans.”
The problem is twofold: Poor educational outreach and the aggressive campaign to spread miss-information to undermine the reform.
Full Disclosure – I am in the healthcare industry.
8/10 shocked myself
this is a great link will share it Joe!!
I got 9/10 as well, Joe – thank you for sharing!
I’d say to call this thing a “survey” is a stretch. It’s really just a clever tool to spread a biased viewpoint about Obamacare. Its authors are intellectually dishonest and clearly have an agenda. Here’s some examples: Doesn’t cut Medicare (but will impact access to care for Medicare recipients and everyone else), can’t deny coverage for pre-existing conditions (if you live to the year 2014 that is), no death panels (but Obama has regulated additional compensation for doctors that counsel patients against aggressive end of life care, NYT 12/25/10), no benefits to illegal aliens (this is an outright lie, there are several mechanism by which illegal immigrants can and will benefit from Obamacare). What the survey clearly avoids is questions related to issues that most Americans don’t like about this law. Add on top of all this, the lie that “if you like the plan you have you can keep it”, waivers for unions, Rep Weiner now looking at waivers for NY, etc, etc, etc. Stop spreading half-truths. Thanks.
MicMac
Thanks for the comment.
I’ll respond to your issues in order.
First, what’s Obamacare? The PPACA is pretty far from what Pres. Obama wanted in a bill and was actually a reconciliation of the House and Senate bills.
There is little evidence that PPACA will impact access to care negatively for Medicare beneficiaries. that is an assumption that some make based on concerns re the expansion of coverage or a misunderstanding of the termination of some Medicare Advantage programs and the taxpayer subsidy of same.
The removal of pre-existing condition underwriting is, as you note, going to be effective in 2014. It would be completely inappropriate to prohibit the use of pre-ex and medical underwriting without a mandate. Are you suggesting we should put the mandate in place now?
Your characterization of end of life care is wrong on two counts. First, it does not pay docs more to ” counsel patients against aggressive end of life care”; it offered payment for ANY end of life counseling. Your statement is a gross mischaracterization. Second, in response to death panel hysteria, this was removed.
The undocumented worker issue has been laid to rest repeatedly; perhaps you’re relying on old information or just don’t understand the strong limitations put in place through the exchanges and other mechanisms.
there are definitely waivers in place for specific plans, and the Wyden legislation will expand the use of waivers to allow individual states to adopt their own programs. Let’s hope, as I’ve said before, that Republican and Democratic Governors use this to find the best solution.
Here’s the thing Joe… I DO believe that health care reform is needed. In fact its imperative. What I don’t believe is that what was “passed” by Congress is the answer. (nor do I believe its constitutional but that’s another discussion)
BTW – “Obamacare” is just as appropriate a moniker as PPACA which unrealistically includes the word “affordable” in its title.
MicMac – on that we can agree. I don’t care for the bill either, but it is the law of the land, warts and all.
As to the Obamacare ‘moniker’ – I have to disagree. This is a political move and is completely inappropriate. The President signed the bill, but if you read his policy papers it is pretty far from what he wanted.
I agree that it is certainly not affordable; then again it’s a drop in the bucket compared to Medicare Part D.
Paduda
Joe you think its inappropriate to call it Obamacare?
What are the “Bush Tax Cuts”? https://www.joepaduda.com/archives/002003.html
They are called the EGTRRA and JGTRRA.
Personally I think it’s entirely appropriate to use both Obamacare and Bush Tax Cuts. There is nothing wrong with affixing the name of the president to his signature piece of legislation.