Health Care

Poll: Voters of both parties largely support ObamaCare pre-existing condition protections

Large majorities of both parties want to preserve protections in ObamaCare for people with pre-existing conditions, according to a new poll, a key message from Democrats in the midterm elections.

The Morning Consult/Politico poll finds that 81 percent of voters, including 80 percent of Republicans, say insurers should be barred from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, which was a provision in ObamaCare.

{mosads}In addition, 71 percent of voters, including 66 percent of Republicans, said insurers should be banned from charging more to people with pre-existing conditions, another Obamacare provision.

Democrats have made GOP threats to those provisions a key part of their message in the campaign such as a GOP-backed lawsuit that seeks to overturn those protections.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), in a tough race in a red state, for example, unveiled an ad this month featuring him shooting the lawsuit with a gun. Manchin’s Republican challenger Patrick Morrisey is one of 20 state attorneys general supporting the lawsuit.

The poll found that 42 percent of voters say they trust Democrats in Congress more to protect people with pre-existing conditions, compared to 20 percent of voters saying Republicans in Congress.