Pew Research: Most Americans Say the Government Should Ensure Health Care Coverage

A strong majority of Americans (66%) believe the federal government has a responsibility to ensure all Americans have health care coverage, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in November 2025. While views have remained steady since last year, support for this idea has increased modestly from 62% in 2021 — largely due to shifting opinions among lower-income Republicans.

The public remains split on how the government should provide coverage. Of those who believe health care is a government responsibility:

• 35% favor a single national insurance program run by the government.

• 31% support a mixed system of private insurance and public programs.

Democrats overwhelmingly support the government’s role (90%), with a majority favoring a single-payer system. Republican support remains lower overall (41%), but there are major differences based on income:

• 60% of lower-income Republicans say the government has a responsibility to provide health care, compared to only 28% of upper-income Republicans.

Majorities across all income groups support the idea in principle, but lower-income Americans are especially likely to say it’s the federal government’s duty. This pattern also holds across racial and ethnic groups, with Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults more likely than White adults to support a government role.

The findings come as debates over health care affordability and access continue to shape political campaigns and policy decisions heading into the 2026 election season. For many Americans — especially those with lower incomes or young children — the question of whether the government will ensure access to care is not just political; it’s deeply personal.