The publicperception of the three most prominent health care proposals fromDemocrats is that they are intended to expand access to healthcare, rather than lower costs. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that the greatmajority of Americans support the government making big moves toexpand health care coverage.

The survey of more than 1,200 adults finds that amajority of Americans (56 percent) say they favor the idea ofMedicare for All, while an even larger percentage (68 percent)support a "public option" that would compete with the privatehealth insurance market.

The survey did not ask whether people would support Medicare for All if it meant losing theiremployer-sponsored coverage. Other polls have shown a sharp drop insupport for single-payer when people consider the prospect oflosing their private plans.

Related: Democrats debate whether 'Medicare for All' isrealistic

However, the poll did show that a plurality of respondents (41percent) believed that a single-payer plan would result in the lossof private individual and employer-sponsored plans, while only aquarter said private plans would remain. The remaining 34 percentwere unsure.

An encouraging sign for supporters of either Medicare for All ora public option is that voters appear willing to accept that thoseplans would mean higher taxes.

Eighty-three percent say that Medicare for All would lead tohigher taxes for "most people." At the same time, 50 percent say asingle-payer plan would mean that individuals and employers wouldno longer pay health insurance premiums.

The public perception of the three most prominent health careproposals from Democrats –– Medicare for All, a public option, andObamacare –– is that they are intended to expand access to health care, rather than lowercosts. Only 19 percent believe the main goal of Medicare for All isto lower costs, compared to 68 percent who believe it is to expandcoverage.

Only 26 percent believe the intent of the ACA is to lower costsand only 29 percent believe a public option is aimed at costs,rather than access.

Fifty-three percent say that lowering the cost of prescriptiondrugs is "extremely important," while 34 percent call it "veryimportant," making that the top health care issue amongrespondents.

In a close second, however, is ensuring that ACA protections forpreexisting conditions remain in place. Fifty percent call itextremely important, while 33 percent say it's very important.

Read more: 

• House Democrat offers state-based Medicare for Allbill
• Middle class the winners in Warren's Medicare forAll plan
• 9 ways to finance Medicare for All, none of whichlook that great