Is Health Care Government's Job? Americans say Yes, No

Americans believe by 61 percent to 37 percent that they themselves -- and not the government -- have the primary responsibility for ensuring they have health insurance, according to a Gallup poll conducted Sept. 11-13.

In reporting that result, Gallup notes that "an important principle behind the current push for health care reform is that health care is a basic right that the government ought to guarantee for all Americans." But Gallup adds: "Americans tend to agree with the government's taking responsibility for guaranteeing health care coverage when asked in 'yes or no' terms. However, they are more libertarian on the issue when asked whether the government or individual citizens should be primarily responsible for ensuring that coverage."

Gallup says that it wanted to see how public opinion might change if respondents were given an alternative in how the question is framed.

Eighty-nine percent of Republicans believe Americans have the primary responsibility to make sure they have coverage, as do 64 percent of independents. But 62 percent of Democrats put the primary burden on the government.

When Gallup asked the "yes or no" question on whether it is the government's responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care, the answer was 54 percent to 41 percent in the affirmative. A recent New York Times poll put that number at 51 percent to 40 percent, and a Fox News survey had it at 51 percent to 46 percent.