Only 40 percent of U.S. adults are aware of the health insurance exchanges opening Tuesday and the tax subsidies available to help people pay for health plans purchased in those marketplaces, according to a survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund.
The people who stand to benefit the most from the exchanges and subsidies established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are also the least likely to be aware of them, according to the survey. Among those who didn't have health coverage during the past year, only 32 percent know of the exchanges, and 31 percent were aware of the subsidies. Of those who had coverage, 43 percent were aware of both the exchanges and subsidies.
Furthermore, the survey found 32 percent of people who earn less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level know of the subsidies, compared with 47 percent of those earning more than 250 percent of the poverty level. Once they were aware of the exchanges, 61 percent of potentially eligible individuals said they are very or somewhat likely to shop for coverage through the PPACA marketplaces.
Additionally, the survey found 68 percent of adults are somewhat or strongly in favor of expanding Medicaid, with uninsured Democrats showing the most support at 91 percent. Under the healthcare reform law, states have the option of extending their Medicaid programs' eligibility to cover adults earning up to 138 percent of the poverty level. The District of Columbia and 25 states have opted to expand Medicaid, according to The Commonwealth Fund.
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New PPACA Exchange Delays for Small Businesses, Spanish Speakers