Just over half of those who took a Gallup poll said the federal government was responsible for ensuring all Americans have healthcare coverage.
- Voters who agree federal government is responsible: 52 percent.
- Disagree: 45 percent.
However, a majority of those who took the poll said they would rather have a private insurance system than one run by the government.
- Private system: 53 percent.
- Government system: 43 percent.
When the poll looked at Americans' views on both topics, a larger group said it is up to individuals, not the government, to look after their own coverage, and it prefers private insurance. A smaller portion of the voters want the government to be responsible for making sure healthcare coverage is available, but they want private providers to run it.
- Individual responsibility, private insurance: 39 percent.
- Government responsibility, government insurance: 35 percent.
- Government responsibility, private insurance: 14 percent.
Breaking down the results by party affiliation, most Republicans – 72 percent — prefer individual responsibility and private insurance.
Democrats are more mixed on their preferences:
- Government responsibility, government insurance: 56 percent.
- Government responsibility, private insurance: 16 percent.
- Individual responsibility, private insurance: 14 percent.
Independent voters are evenly split in their opinion, with 36 percent favoring individual responsibility and another 36 percent favoring the government.
The poll was based on phone interviews conducted from Nov. 9-13 among a random sample of 1,019 adults, ages 18 and older.
In a separate Gallup poll, more voters say cost is the top health problem facing the U.S.:
- Healthcare costs: 27 percent.
- Access to care: 20 percent.
- Cancer: 12 percent.
- Obesity: 8 percent.
Other causes for concern gained 3 percent or less of the votes include: diabetes, drug or alcohol abuse, mental illness, the flu, government interference, and AIDS.
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