The Politics of Medicaid: Most Americans Are Connected to the Program Support Its Expansion and Do Not View It as Stigmatizing

摘要

Policy Points: class="unordered" style="list-style-type:disc" id="milq12298-list-0001">More than half of Americans are connected to the Medicaid program—either through their own coverage or that of a family member or close friend—and are significantly more likely to view Medicaid as important and to support increases in spending, even among conservatives. This finding helps explain why Affordable Care Act repeal efforts faced (and will continue to face) strong public backlash.Policymakers should be aware that although renaming programs within Medicaid may have increased enrollment take‐up, this destigmatization effort might have also increased program confusion and reduced support for Medicaid even among enrollees who say the program is important to them.