Although not supported as a whole, elements of the Affordable Care Act are becoming more palatable to Indiana residents, a new study shows.
In 2010, 48 percent of Indiana residents expressed an unfavorable view of the act, also known as Obamacare, compared to 51 percent in 2011 and 42 percent in 2012, according to a study out of Ball State University.
"Health Care Reform: Understanding Individuals' Attitudes and Information Sources," published by BioMed Research International, surveyed 600 people between 2010 and 2012 and found 44 percent of residents were in favor of health care reform in 2012, compared to 36 percent in 2010, according to the university.
"Overall, from 2010 to 2012, despite a general negative attitude toward the ACA, the majority of Indiana residents consistently support key elements of the legislation," the study states.
Jagdish Khubchandani, a community health education professor and study co-author, stated the study also found that females, non-whites, Democrats and insured people were more likely to have a general favorable attitude toward health care reform.
Those surveyed were asked whether making coverage affordable, ensuring coverage for all, mandating insurance accept pre-existing conditions, providing coverage for adult children up to age 26 and the individual mandate to require people to get health coverage were important.
"People are generally for those ideas," said Carolyn Shue, a communication studies professor at Ball State University, who was the study lead author. "There's a lot of debate on how they're executed."
The study showed 93 percent believed affordable health care coverage is important, down from 96 percent in 2010. There was a slight increase in those supporting ensuring coverage for all, with 81 percent agreeing, up from 80 percent in 2010, according to the study.
In 2012, 90 percent surveyed believed insurance companies should cover pre-existing conditions, down slightly from 91 percent in 2010. There was an increase in support for covering adult children up to 26 years old, with 77 percent in agreement, up from 69 percent in 2010, according to the study.
The 2012 survey showed 63 percent of Hoosiers supported the individual mandate requiring people to get health coverage. That component was not part of an earlier survey, so there is no comparison data.
"Our survey found that over the last few years, Indiana residents are still split on the overall issue of the ACA," Shue stated. "Yet, it's important to remember that the majority of Indiana residents support the main ideas of health care reform. The issue remains politically charged, as evidenced by our findings."
The issues become so politicized that people don't pause to actually look at them, Shue said.
A recent Gallup poll shows 66 percent of Americans in the first half of June were satisfied with the way the health care system is working for them, which aligns with attitudes since the middle of March. There was a slight increase in mid April, up to 70 percent.
Researchers on the Ball State study learned that Hoosiers who relied on national news for health care reform information had more favorable views toward the legislation than those who didn't.
Shue said the study also examined health care usage data, which includes emergency room visits, inpatient stays, outpatient procedures and other points of contact with the health care system.
"We do have this preconceived notion that people who don't have insurance just use the ER for access to care," she said.
The study saw no difference. It also showed insured people are more likely to visit a primary care doctor and those without were less likely.