Before Obamacare was shoved through and passed in 2010, conservatives and small government proponents warned that once the entitlement program was implemented, it would be impossible to take away. They were right.
Fast forward five years and a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows a majority of Americans want Obamacare subsidies mandated in all 50 states if current federal subsidies are struck down in King v. Burwell. In other words, the majority of country wants healthcare plans paid for (aka subsidized) by someone else.
When asked how Congress should respond if the Court prohibits that financial assistance in federal marketplace states, more than six in 10 (63%) say Congress should pass a law to ensure people in all states are eligible for subsidies. Majorities of Democrats (80%) and independents (66%) favor Congressional action, while Republicans are divided with half (49%) saying Congress should not pass a law and somewhat fewer (38%) favoring action.
Among those in the potentially affected states, most (55%) say their state should act to create their own marketplace if necessary to assure their residents of continued financial assistance.
With the Supreme Court expected to rule by the end of the month in the King v. Burwell case challenging a key aspect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the public is still not focused on the case. Most say they have heard only a little (28%) or nothing at all (44%) about it. Relatively few say they have heard something (14%) or a lot (13%) about the case.
Overall Obamacare still remains unpopular and yet, people still want to make sure their insurance plans are partially paid for through subsidies, which are forced by the law in the first place.
Subsidies don't make healthcare "more affordable," they make healthcare more expensive for everyone.