Majority in NH Believe Obamacare Will Increase Healthcare Costs

A majority of adults in New Hampshire oppose Obamacare primarily because they think the Affordable Care Act will increase their healthcare costs.

According to a WMUR poll, 53% of those in New Hampshire oppose the law, while only 34% are in favor of it. The poll also finds that opposition to the law has increased by nine percentage points since the summer. 

Sixty percent of New Hampshire residents “believe that their medical costs will increase,” while only six percent think costs will decrease. Another 26% feel costs will remain the same while 8% are unsure. The poll finds that overwhelming majorities of Republicans (75%) and independents (66%) say their costs will increase. Even 42% of Democrats believe Obamacare will increase healthcare costs. 

In addition, 36% of adults in New Hampshire believe they will be worse off under Obamacare while only 18% think they will be better off under the law. The poll shows a huge partisan divide on this question: “60% of Republicans think they will be worse off compared to just 16% of Democrats.”

The unpopularity of Obamacare may impact the 2016 presidential primaries as the “Live Free or Die” state, whose residents are known for hating taxes and fees, traditionally holds the “first-in-the-nation” primary after the Iowa caucuses. 

The University of New Hampshire Survey Center surveyed New Hampshire adults between January 21 and 26 for the poll, and the margin of error is +/- 4.1%.