government
Health reform still a mystery to many, poll says
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 3, 2010
The majority of Americans know a national health reform law was enacted, but fewer said they understood how the law will affect them, according to the April Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, released April 22. Also, public awareness about the law's numerous provisions varied widely.
While 81% of people surveyed knew President Obama signed a health reform law, 56% said they don't have enough information about the law to understand how it will impact them.
Respondents were also undereducated about the provisions' timing. For example, although 70% understood the law extends dependents' eligibility for coverage under their parents' plan to age 26, only 20% knew that provision will take effect this year. The poll is based on a national sample of 1,208 adults contacted between April 9 and April 14.
The results are available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/05/03/gvbf0503.htm.
