Regarding awareness of specific measures, a majority of Americans polled recognize subsidies to individuals to purchase insurance as being part of the reform legislation. A majority also recognized measures such as taxes on the wealthy, expansion of Medicaid, and health insurance exchanges. Fewer people, less than 45 percent, recognized other provisions, such as no gender ratings, elimination of caps on lifetime benefits, and closing the Medicare doughnut hole.

A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation survey, the Health Care Consumer Confidence Index, showed that American confidence in health insurance coverage and access to health care rose to a 99.1 point index level in December. [To see how the index is calculated, go to: http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/53428.pdf]


The results for the December survey also showed that respondents had growing anxiety regarding the impact of health care reform on both finances and access to care. Around 30 percent reported feeling that their own personal finances would be worse with the passage of health care reform legislation, a rise from November results. More Americans also reported feeling that access to care under health care reforms would be worsened.

Read more details:
The President's remarks: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-during-town-hall-meeting-elyria-ohio

Press Secretary Gibbs' remarks: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/briefing-white-house-press-secretary-robert-gibbs-12510

The New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/health/policy/26health.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

The Kaiser Family Foundation Poll: http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/8042.cfm

The RJW Index: http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=54869

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