The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is more popular than the recently enacted tax law, according to a poll from Fox News.
More than half of respondents in the poll—51 percent—approved of the ACA, while just 40 percent approved of the 2017 Republican tax cuts, the survey found. Fox News polled 1,009 registered voters from Aug. 19-21. The tax law, which was signed into law in last December, significantly reformed the U.S. tax code and saved some of the biggest healthcare companies an estimated $10 billion.
The poll findings reveal that the ACA has staying power in the public’s opinion. Among the changes in the law, popular measures included protections for those with preexisting conditions and the ability of young adults to stay on their parents’ plans until the age of 26.
Currently, a lawsuit filed in Texas threatens to undue those protections—and potentially entirety of the ACA. Oral arguments for the case, supported by the Trump administration, are scheduled for Sept. 5, ahead of the original date of Sept. 10, Politico reported.
In addition, Fox News’ poll found that only 36 percent of voters approve of the way President Donald Trump is handling healthcare, with 55 percent disapproving. Trump has been a staunch supporter of attempts to overturn the ACA by Republicans, and the administration is facing another lawsuit from several cities arguing the administration’s actions against the healthcare law are unconstitutional.
However, healthcare remains an important voting issue for voters, with 56 percent saying it is “extremely” important and 30 percent saying it is “very” important. It was also tied with the economy as the top voting issue overall.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."