AHCA opposition ticks up in latest poll; Senate to consider delaying ACA repeal
Among voters, 44 percent said they would be less likely to vote for a Senator or member of Congress who supports the revised bill.
Public opposition to the American Health Care Act is growing, with the latest Quinnipiac University poll showing 57 percent of voters disapprove of the GOP-crafted bill, which passed in the House by the slimmest of margins.
The bill is now up for consideration in the Senate, and published reports say Republicans in the upper chamber are weighing a process that would postpone repeal of the Affordable Care Act until 2020.
Nonpartisan analysts have said the House plan would undermine insurance markets, and in response, Senate Republicans are expected to craft a more modest version. Public opinion may be a factor: 44 percent of voters said they would be less likely to vote for a Senator of member of Congress who supports the revised GOP healthcare plan. By contrast, 20 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a Senator who supports it, while 31 percent say the issue wouldn't affect their vote.
[Also: Providers still hate AHCA after revised CBO score shows 23 million uninsured]
Among independent voters, a key bloc, only 17 percent are more likely to support an elected official who backs the healthcare plan, while 41 percent are less likely. Republicans are the only listed party, gender, education, age or racial group to support the bill, by a lackluster 42-24 percent, and the only group where more voters say they would support a candidate for reelection who backs the latest healthcare plan.
Under the AHCA, 44 percent of American voters say their health insurance costs will go up, while 12 percent say they will go down and 33 percent say they will stay the same.
Senate Republicans have hinted that their first step may be to stabilize premium costs in the ACA's insurance purchasing exchanges in 2018 and 2019.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that the House plan, passed May 4, would result in 23 million more people without insurance, and, in some states plans would be too costly for sicker or elderly people. The House measure passed with no Democratic votes.
Twitter: @JELagasse
