Poll: Battleground Voters Want To Protect ACA, Stop Trump Lawsuit

A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows a majority of Americans in key battleground states want to keep the Affordable Care Act in place and make big changes to the health care system.

Fifty-five percent of respondents said the ACA should not be struck down, including 55% of Independents and 25% of Republicans. Fifty-four percent said President Donald Trump’s administration and the Department of Justice should drop their support for the lawsuit challenging the health care law, including 52% of Independents and 30% of Republicans.

For 69% of respondents, health care is a key issue, while just 8% said health care was not that important.

On policy points, 84% of participants said they support ending the ban on Medicare negotiation for prescription drug costs, including 82% of Republicans and 86% of Independents.

Seventy percent of respondents, including 58% of Republicans and 62% of Independents, oppose “junk plans,” which allow insurance companies to sell plans that don’t cover prescription drug costs or protect people with pre-existing conditions.

The poll also inquired about a number of potential fall-out situations from striking down the ACA. Sixty-six percent of respondents said prescription drug coverage is a major concern; 71% said losing pre-existing conditions coverage is a major concern; and 68% said they worried about 20 million people potentially losing their coverage.

• Ninety-three percent of Democrats, 70% of Republicans and 82% of Independents said they are concerned about 20 million people losing their coverage.

• Ninety-three percent of Democrats, 81% of Republicans and 89% of Independents said they are concerned about eliminating protections for pre-existing conditions.

• Ninety-three percent of Democrats, 73% of Republicans and 91% of Independents said they are concerned about losing coverage for the cost of prescription drugs.

The poll surveyed 733 “battleground” voters in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Texas, with a  margin of error of +/- 3.6%. Among those polled, 46% approve of the job President Trump is doing, and 45% currently would vote to re-elect him.

Of the 733 voters surveyed, 30% were between ages 18 and 45; 39% were between 46 and 65; and 31% were older than 65. Seventy-three percent of respondents were white, while 11% were Hispanic/Latino and 10% were African-American.

Politically, the poll consisted of 40% Democrats, 36% Republicans and 24% identified themselves as Independents.

By Josh Cook
Posted 9/13/19