Poll: Californians Have Favorable Yet Uncertain View Of Affordable Care Act

A majority of Californians may have a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act, but many aren't so sure that the law has improved their health care, says a new poll.

The poll, by USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times, shows 52 percent of respondents say the ACA had no impact on their health care.

Dan Schnure, director of the Jess Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and founder of the poll, says Californians' attitude about the act may represent the larger picture instead of individual experience.

"Californians are making their decision on their feelings about the Affordable Care Act, not based on their own personal experience, but on their broader beliefs about the act's impact on society," he says.

Other respondents were split on the effects of the ACA with 23 percent saying it worsened their health care and 22 percent saying the law improved it.

The data also shows 73 percent of those polled worry about the quality of health care and 70 percent worry that they will lack health insurance at some point. 

"They do have concerns about prices. They do have concerns about access to prescription drugs. And while they are generally satisfied, there are stukk significant areas of concern," Schurn says.

The poll says 89 percent of respondents worry about rising health care costs and 76 percent worry about the price of prescription drugs.

The poll is a series of statewide public opinion polls in California designed to survey voter attitudes on a wide range of political, policy, social and cultural issues.