Poll: 56% support delay of ObamaCare's individual mandate

Nearly two weeks ago, the Obama Administration announced a one-year delay of the employer mandate, a part of ObamaCare that requires businesses with over 50 employees to offer health insurance coverage or face a fine.

What’s good for business, as the Obama Administration apparently believes, seems to have Americans wondering why it’s not good enough for them. According to a new poll from Rasmussen Reports, 56% of Americans oppose the individual mandate,a central part of ObamaCare that requires every American to purchase health insurance. The same number supports a one-year delay of the policy.

“Only 35% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the individual mandate anyway, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey,” noted the polling firm. Fifty-six percent (56%) oppose the law’s requirement that every American obtain health insurance or else be forced to pay fines.”

“Only 35% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the individual mandate anyway, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) oppose the law’s requirement that every American obtain health insurance or else be forced to pay fines.”

A similar poll conducted by HealthPocket showed that a plurality believes that the delay of the employer mandate should extended to the individual mandate.

House Republicans will this week vote on a delay of the individual mandate. During a press conference last week, Speaker John Boehner struck an aggressively populist tone, telling reporters that the legislative push against the heard of ObamaCare is a matter of fairness.

“[I]s it fair for the President to give American businesses an exemption from the health law’s mandates, without giving the same break to individuals and families across the country?” Boehner rhetorically asked. “Hell no it isn’t.”

“I believe it’s unfair to protect big businesses from ObamaCare, but not individuals and families,” added Boehner.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Rasmussen poll was the numbers from younger Americans. While this group has been generous to President Barack Obama in his campaigns, they aren’t keen on the individual mandate.

“Younger voters support both the individual and employer mandates more strongly than their elders do,” notes Rasmussen. “Still, a plurality (49%) of voters under 40 opposes the requirement that every American must buy or obtain health insurance, and 59% of these voters think the administration should delay its implementation.”

Young Americans stand to be hurt the most by ObamaCare. Rising insurance premiums caused by the law will disproportionately impact young people. A study released in December showed that they could see a 42% premium hike due to age-rating restrictions, which essentially forces the young to subsidize the coverage of older Americans.