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Democrats want the government to ensure that all Americans have health insurance, and they want the government to oversee the health insurance system. Republicans feel exactly the opposite. Indies lean towards the Dems on the former and the GOP on the latter.
So it goes in the party line politics of health care.
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The government/no government breakdown comes our way courtesy of a recent Gallup poll. Gallup has been tracking Americans' preferences for who should be responsible for and who should provide health insurance since 2000. Since 2015, Gallup reports, the trend has been slightly in favor of a hands-on government approach, as those saying they prefer a major federal role prevailing within a range of 51% to 57%.
The latest poll results are in line with that trend, as 57% say yes to the feds taking responsibility for extending health insurance to all Americans, and 40% saying private companies and market forces should be in charge.
Democrats unequivocally say they want the government in charge, as 9 of 10 answered "yes" to the question. Republicans were less unified: 7 in 10 want the feds out of the equation. Among independents, 6 of 10 say health insurance should be among Washington's duties.
When asked who should actually provide the insurance, Republicans were much more aligned. More than 8 of 10 say "Leave it in the hands of the private marketplace." Among Democrats, 72% want the feds to provide the insurance. The indies were pretty much split down the middle.
Reviewing the results of past polls, Gallup reports: "Over the past 13 years, the percentage of Republicans preferring private insurance has not fallen below 79%; it peaked at 91% in 2010, the year the ACA became law. At the same time, between 52% (in 2013) and 77% (in 2021) of Democrats have favored a government-run system.
"Majorities of independents backed a private system from 2010 through 2015, but they have been more divided since then, reaching a consensus only once — in 2021, when 55% favored private insurance."
Summing it up, Gallup says: "Americans continue to hold a nuanced view of the U.S. health care system, with a majority saying the government should ensure that all Americans have coverage but preferring that the system be funded privately. Partisans have fundamentally differing views on how health care should be delivered in the U.S., with Democrats indicating support for a system where the government not only guarantees coverage but provides health care, while Republicans remain wedded to the current system of private coverage and health care.
"Notably, Democrats are more unified in their belief that government is responsible for ensuring all Americans have health care than in wanting a true public health system. Conversely, Republicans are more unified against such medical care than they are against the idea that it is government's job to make sure no American goes without health care."
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
