Majority, but not the uninsured, more informed about O-Care

A majority of people in the United States say they now feel more informed about ObamaCare, but the uninsured are still not as familiar with the law and aren’t ready to enroll. 

Sixty percent of the public says they’ve become more knowledgeable about the healthcare law, according to a new survey by the Transamerica Center for Health Studies.

The poll also indicates 72 percent feels prepared to satisfy the individual mandate, which requires uninsured people to enroll in a health plan by March 31. Those who miss that deadline will face a tax penalty.

{mosads}Nearly two-thirds say they have done nothing in the last year to prepare for ObamaCare, whose insurance exchanges went live Oct. 1. 

As the first enrollment deadline, Dec. 23, nears, a little less than a third of uninsured people haven’t even heard of the new exchanges. People who do select a plan by that date will have coverage beginning Jan. 1.

“The uninsured continue to be the least active, which could be because they feel the least prepared and also are the least satisfied with the health care system. With the deadline to purchase coverage approaching, the great unknown is what the uninsured will do,” said Hector De La Torre, executive director of the organization that compiled the survey.

The survey was conducted in November and polled 18- to 64-year-olds nationwide.

A Gallup survey released a week ago indicated more than a quarter of people without insurance are willing to pay a fine rather than enrolling in ObamaCare.