Views closely divided on Medicaid expansion, Kaiser poll finds

Public support for Medicaid expansion is closely divided in a monthly poll that asked respondents about broadening the safety net in their home states.

Forty-nine percent said they would prefer their own state to expand Medicaid and 43% said they would not change eligibility, the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll found. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allows states to expand Medicaid coverage, but June's U.S. Supreme Court decision on the healthcare reform law stuck down a hefty threat—the potential loss of all Medicaid funds—if states did not widen access to Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office last week estimated 6 million fewer people would gain coverage under Medicaid as a result of states opting not to expand as originally expected.

Responses changed with follow-up questions that outlined the arguments commonly made for and against expansion. Support for Medicaid expansion increased to 59% from 49% when those who originally opposed expansion were told many low-income would be left uninsured and the state would forgo federal funding. Conversely, the share of those who opposed expansion increased to 52% from 43% when expansion supporters were told that the state would shoulder some of the expense.

Democrats broadly support Medicaid expansion in their own states, the Kaiser poll found, with 75% in favor of greater eligibility for the safety net insurer. Meanwhile, two-thirds of Republicans said Medicaid in their states should remain as is.

Overall opinion of the Affordable Care Act continues to be split with 38% who hold a favorable opinion and 43% with an unfavorable opinion of the law. But 20% of those surveyed said they have not yet made up their mind and another 26% said they could change their minds.

The telephone survey included responses from a nationally representative sample of 1,227 adults. The survey was conducted July 17 to July 23.