Poll Tracker

That said, 63 percent are very or somewhat concerned that the quality of their own health care will get worse if the government provides a system to cover everybody. Sixty-eight percent believe their access to medical tests and treatment would be more limited.

While Americans were split on how satisfied they were overall with the quality of health care in the U.S., 77 percent said they were happy with the quality of care that they personally received.

The poll found that by 50 percent to 34 percent, government would do a better job in than private insurance companies in providing medical coverage, and that, by 59 percent to 26 percent, that government would do a better job in holding down health care costs. Both of those results represent a significant shift in opinion compared to results on the same question in 2007.

Of those supporting higher taxes to make universal coverage happen, 43 percent said they would be willing to pay as much as $500 a year in higher taxes.

Fifty-one percent believe there are some good things about the current health care system but that fundamental changes are still needed, 34 percent say the system needs to be completely rebuilt, and 13 percent say only minor changes are required.

While the public approves by 44 percent to 34 percent of the way President Obama is handling healthcare, it is more evenly divided about whether it trusts Obama or Congress to make the right decisions, with Obama leading by 39 percent to 35 percent. The margin of error is 3 points. They believe that Democrats more than Republicans are likely to improve health care by 57 percent to 18 percent.

Those polled oppose proposals to pay for a health care overhaul by taxing health benefits from employers by 46 percent to 20 percent with 31 percent undecided.