Just over a third of the public knows that people will no longer have to pay a fine for not having health insurance under Obamacare, according to a poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The penalties that are part of the individual mandate were repealed as part of a Republican-passed tax bill that President Trump signed into law late last year.
The poll found that 36 percent of the public knows the penalties will no longer apply while 46 percent incorrectly say that the requirement has not been repealed. The rest aren’t sure.
The penalties, which other polls consistently showed were among the least popular parts of Obamacare, will go to zero beginning in 2019. Prior to that, they are $695 per individual or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is higher, though they also contain multiple exemptions.
The results are similar even when they are asked of people who would be directly affected by the individual mandate, including people who are uninsured and people who buy medical coverage on their own, whether directly from an insurer or through the Obamacare exchanges. Among this group, 37 percent are aware the individual mandate has been repealed, while 44 percent incorrectly say it has not been repealed and 19 percent are unsure.
The poll found that healthcare now ranks among the top issues that voters want candidates to talk about during their campaigns, alongside the economy. When asked how important a series of issues are for 2018 congressional candidates to talk about, 29 percent of registered voters said healthcare and 27 percent cited the economy and jobs are “the most important issue.” Other issues of importance to voters were immigration and the situation in North Korea, both at 24 percent.
But the percentages shifted when the same question was asked in voters with competitive House, Senate or gubernatorial campaigns. When those voters were asked about their priorities, 34 percent said they wanted to hear most about the economy and jobs, while 23 percent prioritized the situation in North Korea and 22 percent prioritized immigration. A smaller group, 21 percent, prioritized healthcare.
The poll was conducted over the phone from Jan. 16 to 21, among 1,215 adults.
