Public opinion of Obamacare declined over the past month, just as the law enters its third enrollment period.
About 45 percent of the public had an unfavorable view of the healthcare law in November, up from 42 percent a month earlier. Those with a favorable view of the law fell to 38 percent, from 42 percent in October.
The remaining portion of those asked either had no opinion or refused to comment.
Those polled were split on what to do about the law. About 32 percent want full repeal and 11 percent want it scaled back, meaning 43 percent want it scaled back somehow. But 44 percent want the law’s implementation to either continue (16 percent), or even expanded further (28 percent).
People’s views of the law and what Congress should do about it vary by political party.
For instance, 80 percent of Democrats want the law to be expanded or continue to be implemented, while 79 percent of Republicans want it scaled back or repealed.
The poll also waded into the potential impact of Obamacare’s controversial “Cadillac tax” on expensive healthcare plans.
Kaiser asked people with employer-sponsored insurance whether their wages will go up when the tax goes into effect in 2018. Kaiser noted that some people have said employers will pay higher wages in exchange for lowering health benefits.
But workers are largely not buying it, as 76 percent of those surveyed didn’t think employers would raise wages. About 20 percent believe they will get a raise and 5 percent didn’t know.
Efforts to repeal the tax have gotten bipartisan support on in Congress because unions, a key Democratic constituency, hate the tax. Unions often negotiate for high-cost healthcare plans from employers.
The poll was of 1,352 adults in the U.S.
