Public Opinion on ACA Provisions Following Federal Judge's Invalidation of the Law

As many of you no doubt heard, a Texas-based federal judge recently found the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, claiming that Congress's elimination of the individual mandate in 2017 (technically, making the tax penalty $0 for not having health insurance) destroyed the legal pillars supporting the law.

Commentators have noted that, between appeals of this ruling and possible legislative action, the ultimate impact on the public is uncertain.

In the wake of this ruling, Political Wire's Taegan Goddard summarizes the latest Kaiser Family Foundation poll on ACA policies. Spoiler alert: Strong overall majorities -- including majorities of self-identified Republicans -- support five key ACA provisions.

Medicaid Expansion Passes in Three 2018 State Ballot Propositions

Ballot propositions to join the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion passed by solid margins in three traditionally conservative states -- Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska -- last night. With a nod to the song "New York, New York," I would say that, in terms of public opinion, if Medicaid expansion can make it there (Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska), it can make it anywhere.

According to this Kaiser Family Foundation article, "Following the election, 37 states including the District of Columbia have adopted the ACA’s Medicaid expansion." Results from gubernatorial elections in three additional states -- Maine, Wisconsin, and Kansas -- may lead to expansion there, as well.

A measure to extend Montana's Medicaid expansion with funding through taxes on cigarette products failed. According to local coverage:

Money from the tax would have helped finance the state share of Medicaid expansion, which currently provides government-funded health coverage to nearly 100,000 low-income adults in Montana. The federal government covers 90 percent of its cost.

[Initiative] 185 also would have made permanent the Medicaid expansion program, which is scheduled to expire next June.

How Public Opinion on Pre-Existing Conditions is Playing Out as the 2018 Midterm Elections Enter the Home Stretch

Five-Thirty-Eight reviews public-opinion data on protecting the coverage of people with pre-existing conditions (and on the ACA in general) as November's midterm elections fast approach.

Polling on Protecting People with Pre-Existing Conditions

Vox has an interesting article, chock-full of polling data, on the "political power of pre-existing conditions."

Contradictory Polls on Medicaid Work Requirements

Vox reviews two recent polls that produced seemingly contradictory results on whether the majority of Americans support work requirements for people to obtain Medicaid. One poll shows robust support for work requirements, the other not so much.