Americans lean toward healthcare repeal

PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Americans remain divided on whether it is the government's responsibility to ensure blanket health coverage, a Gallup poll released Wednesday indicated.

Fifty percent of Americans said they thought the federal government should be responsible for ensuring all Americans have healthcare while 46 percent disagreed, results indicated.

Forty-seven percent of Americans said they favor repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act while 42 percent said they wanted to keep it, results indicated.

The division is along party lines, with Republicans strongly favoring repeal against a large majority of Democrats who want to keep it in place, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

In October, a Gallup poll indicated 40 percent of Americans said passage of the healthcare law was a good thing and 48 percent said the opposite.

The Supreme Court announced Monday it will review the healthcare law's constitutionality. The case likely will be heard in March and a ruling is expected by next summer.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,012 adults conducted Nov. 3-6. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.