While the Senate is now preparing to debate Democratic Leader Harry Reid's 2000-plus-page version of the health care reform plan, 47% of Americans still believe the private sector rather than the federal government has the best chance of keeping health care costs down and the quality of medical care up.

But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 33% of adults think the federal government would do a better job of reducing costs and maintaining quality of care. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of adults who already have insurance say the private sector would accomplish those goals best, but 34% take the opposing view. Those without insurance are more evenly divided.

Seventy-two percent (72%) of Republicans and 52% of adults not affiliated with either major political party say the private sector has the best chance of achieving these goals. Most Democrats (58%) disagree and have more confidence in the government.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters are opposed to the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, but nearly as many (47%) now favor the plan. With the exception of bounces following nationally televised presidential appeals, that’s the highest level of support measured for the legislative effort all year. However, 52% say passage of the legislation will increase health care costs, and 45% say it will hurt the quality of care.

But then 66% of U.S. voters believe free market competition between private insurance companies will do more than government regulation to reduce the cost of health care.

Other recent polling shows that fear of losing private health insurance outweighs the desire to give consumers the choice of a more affordable “public option,” or government-run health insurance program.

Thirty-one percent (31%) of adults say private insurance companies pay doctors too much, but 33% say they pay them the right amount. Just 20% believe doctors are not paid enough. Sixteen percent (16%) aren't sure.

Half of voters without health insurance (50%) say doctors are paid too much by private insurers, but just 28% of those with insurance agree. One-in-three insured voters (34%) think doctors are paid the right amount.

Forty-five percent (45%) of Americans say the cost of prescription drugs will go up if the health care plan passes Congress. Americans who currently have health insurance are more likely to expect drug prices to rise if the health care plan becomes law than are those who are uninsured. This once again highlights the point made by Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent. … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.