Survey: Missourians warming to health care reform

A survey conducted for the Missouri Foundation for Health found Missourians are warming to the Affordable Care Act.

The survey - which polled 1,416 Missourians in November and was conducted by Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group - was performed to gauge Missouri's public opinion on health issues, according to a news release from the St. Louis-based nonprofit health foundation.

The survey found 46 percent of respondents opposed the Affordable Care Act, down from 54 percent in August 2010. During that time frame, support for the legislation increased to 37 percent from 30 percent.

“Notably, the new results show a steady decline in opposition to the Affordable Care Act since 2010. 2012 marks the first year that opposition has dropped below 50 percent," said Thomas McAuliffe, policy analyst for the Missouri Foundation for Health, in the release.

Other findings:

• Of those surveyed, 52 percent favored Medicaid expansion, 18 percent opposed it and 30 percent were unsure.
• Fifty-three percent of respondents support implementing health insurance exchanges, with 14 percent in opposition. The majority of respondents, 66 percent, preferred Missouri to implement exchanges rather than the federal government.
• Rising health care costs was the fourth-highest economic concern for respondents, behind unemployment, increased costs for daily expenses and national debt.