Justover 30 percent support a public option that allows privateinsurance to remain, while roughly 21 percent would opt for largelyreplacing the private insurance system via a single-pay Medicarefor All system. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A new poll shows the public wants to see the government's rolein health care increase. However, people remain divided on justwhat that role should look like.

The poll by the Urban Institute of nearly 10,000non-elderly adults finds that 51.6 percent support either Medicarefor All or establishing a government-run "public option" insurance program.

Just over 30 percent support a public option that allows privateinsurance to remain, while roughly 21 percent would opt for largelyreplacing the private insurance system via a single-pay Medicarefor All system.

Related: How much would a public optioncost?

About a quarter of respondents said they were neutral on theissue, and about a quarter said they were opposed to bothpolicies.

The survey results align with warnings from top Democrats thatthe party's presidential candidates, notably Elizabeth Warren andBernie Sanders, may risk scaring off voters in the general electionby pushing for Medicare for All. However, the survey also showsthat building on Obamacare via a public option or a furtherexpansion of Medicaid is likely a winning issue for Democrats.

"Most nonelderly adults are receptive or neutral towardproposals for expanding public health insurance coverage," saidMichael Karpman, senior research associate at the Urban Institute."But people who have private insurance may be reluctant to risklosing the coverage they're familiar with, and tend to find apublic option more appealing than Medicare for All."

Since the GOP takeover of the White House in 2016, Democratshave won races around the country by campaigning in favor ofprotecting the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid. Pollshave shown that public support for the ACA has risen significantlyas the Trump administration and Congress have sought to dismantleit.

Leading moderate Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden,Pete Butigieg and Amy Klobuchar, have championed the public option.Some Democrats sought to include a public option in the ACA adecade ago but it was killed by the Obama administration underintense pressure from insurance groups, which have claimed thatallowing the government to become a competitor will inevitably killoff private insurers.

Read more: 

• Colorado moves forward with public optionprogram
• Connecticut's public option stymied by insureropposition
• 5 notes about Washington's public option, foragents