Poll: Most Americans Think Government Should Stay Out of Healthcare

Most U.S. adults think it isn't the federal government's responsibility to ensure all Americans have health insurance, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Gallup found 56 percent of those surveyed thought the government shouldn't be responsible for healthcare coverage, a record high. The number of Americans who think the government should make sure everyone has insurance peaked at 69 percent in 2006, but attitudes began to shift in 2007, according to Gallup.

Viewpoints have changed the most among Republicans and independents. In September 2000, 53 percent of Republicans thought the government shouldn't be responsible for health insurance, compared with 86 percent in the latest poll. Among independents, the portion that want the government out of healthcare went up 28 points since 2000 to 55 percent today.

It's unclear how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's bumpy rollout will affect these attitudes, according to Gallup.

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