Most Americans Want Federal Government to Ensure Healthcare Coverage
/By Crystal Lindell
Two-thirds of Americans (66%) say the federal government has a responsibility to make sure everyone has healthcare coverage. That’s according to a new Pew Research Center survey of over 10,000 U.S. adults conducted last month.
While these views are essentially unchanged over the last year, they are somewhat higher than they were in 2021, when 62% of Americans said the government has a responsibility to make sure everyone is covered by health insurance.
Pew said the increase is primarily due to more Republicans (42%) supporting the idea. However, they are outnumbered by Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who believe the federal government has no business ensuring healthcare coverage for anyone (59%).
In contrast, a solid majority of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (90%) say the government has a responsibility to ensure coverage.
While there is broad support for healthcare coverage overall, Americans disagree on how that should be achieved.
Over a third (35%) favor a single national government program, while 31% say insurance should be provided through a mix of government and private programs.
About one in four adults (26%) say government coverage should only be provided through Medicare and Medicaid, and 7% believe there should be no government involvement of any kind.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Adults in lower-income households are significantly more likely to support federal involvement, regardless of political affiliation. Sixty percent of Republicans with lower incomes favor a government-run program of some kind. That includes 27% who say it should be done through a single national insurance program.
Meanwhile, large majorities of Democrats at all income levels say the federal government is responsible for ensuring everyone has health coverage.
Among racial groups, 85% of black people favor government-run coverage, followed by Asians (78%), Hispanics (75%) and white people (59%).
Younger people are more likely to believe the government has a responsibility to provide healthcare coverage. Specifically, 74% of 18-29 year olds said this, followed by 67% of 30-49 year olds; 63% of 50-64 year olds; and 62% of those over 65.
While a large majority of Americans believe the federal government should play a role in providing insurance to everyone, the political appetite for such a move is not supported in Congress or by the Trump Administration.
This week, the U.S. Senate voted down two competing proposals. One, supported by Democrats, would have extended the Obamacare subsidies without any strings attached. The other proposal, backed by Republicans, would have continued some subsidies, provided the money could not be used for abortion or gender-transition procedures.
The White House, meanwhile, is working on its own plan to give money directly to people so they can buy their own health insurance. But few specifics have been made public.
Barring any last minute breakthroughs, 24 million Americans will face significantly higher insurance premiums on January 1, when federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act end.
