Survey: Many fuzzy on healthcare reform

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MENLO PARK, Calif., March 18 (UPI) -- About half of U.S. adults say the Supreme Court should rule healthcare reform's coverage mandate unconstitutional, a survey indicates.

The Kaiser Family Foundation poll also indicated 6-in-10 of those surveyed said they are not following the issue closely, while many are confused -- 42 percent either think the court has already overturned the mandate to buy health insurance, which is part of the Affordable Care Act, or they didn't know if the case had been decided.

Fifty-nine percent of U.S. adults said they don't currently have enough information to understand how the law would impact them personally, almost identical to the 56 percent who said so after the law passed in 2010.

Several misconceptions about the law endure. More than half of Americans, including majorities of Republicans and independents, either believe the law allows a government panel to make decisions about end of life care for those on Medicare -- 36 percent -- or are not sure whether it does -- 20 percent. Even more -- 7-in-10 -- said they were not aware that the healthcare reform does not create "a new government run insurance plan to be offered along with private plans," or the public option.

Forty-one percent of Americans favored the law, while 40 percent have an unfavorable view. Opinions divided along partisan lines -- 75 percent of Republicans disliked the law, 66 of Democrats favored the law and independents were almost evenly split.

The survey of 1,208 U.S. adults was conducted Feb. 29 to March 5 by Braun Research Inc. under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. The survey margin of error was 3 percentage points.