WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans aren’t enthralled with “Obamacare” and they definitely don’t like the Republican plans offered in Congress, so what does the public want the government to do about health care?
A new poll suggests the country may be shifting toward the political left on the issue, with 62 percent saying it’s the federal government’s responsibility to make sure that all Americans have health care coverage, while 37 percent say it is not.
The survey findings from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicate a change in public attitudes over the past few months, as concerns mounted about GOP legislation estimated to leave tens of millions without coverage.
“Nobody should be without insurance,” said Louise Prieto of Fort Lee, New Jersey, a retiree covered by Medicare. She said she’s most concerned about seniors, children and people with pre-existing medical conditions. The latest Republican legislation — repealing “Obamacare” with no replacement— would increase the number of people who are uninsured by 32 million in 2026, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
As recently as March, the AP-NORC poll had found Americans more ambivalent about the federal government’s role, with a slim 52 percent majority saying health coverage is a federal responsibility, and 47 percent saying it is not.