Poll: Americans split on government’s role in health insurance

Americans are split on whether the federal government is responsible for making sure everyone has healthcare coverage, a new poll shows. 

{mosads}While 45 percent feel the government is responsible for making sure citizens have healthcare, 52 percent disagree, the Gallup poll released Thursday shows.

Americans were more likely to say ensuring healthcare for citizens was a federal responsibility between 2000 and 2008, past Gallup polls indicate, but the passage of the Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as ObamaCare, led to a division on the issue. 

Between 2000 and 2008, 54 to 69 percent of Americans said ensuring healthcare was a federal responsibility. But by 2012, 54 percent said it wasn’t. 

A majority of Americans in the most recent poll said they prefer a private healthcare system over a government-run system. 

Fifty-three percent said they favor a private system, compared with the 43 percent who said they prefer a government system. 

GOP lawmakers have said repealing and replacing ObamaCare will be their first priority under President-elect Donald Trump.