A Gallup survey of more than 1,000 American adults found conflicting opinions on healthcare.
While 47 percent of respondents indicated they would like to see the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) repealed compared to 42 percent who want it to remain in effect, 50 percent indicated the federal government is responsible for ensuring Americans have health coverage.
With 46 percent saying the government has no such responsibility, the survey results show competing opinions on the two questions are very close. The results have a 4 percent margin of error.
The PPACA will be examined by the U.S. Supreme Court next year, with a ruling expected by July. Various private organizations and more than 26 states have filed suits against the law. Among its provisions are measures which affect employee benefits, which some businesses object to. The law's advocates and supporters note it will extend coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans and reduce the growth of healthcare costs over time.
The research also compared preferences for private and government-run insurance programs, finding a slight shift in favor of public support. Only 56 percent of respondents indicated a preference for private insurance, compared to 61 percent a year ago. On the other side, the number favoring a government-run system increased to 39 percent from 34 percent last year.
