Slide Presentation of National Survey of 65+ Age Voters on Health Care Issues, including Medicare and the Affordable Care Act

1. A National Survey of 65+
Voter Attitudes
February 16-20, 2014
#14136

2. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Respondent age
42%
65-70
23%
71-75
15%
76-80
14%
80+
Refused
7%

3. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Health Insurance Type
26%
Private Plan
57%
Medicare
Other
Unsure
10%
8%

4. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling
his job as President?
57%
36%
7%
Approve
Unsure
Disapprove
Q1

5. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had to make a
choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate or the Democrat
candidate in your district?
Democrat
38%
Republican
47%
Undecided
15%
Q2

6. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Now I would like to read you the names of several government programs that
have been mentioned in the news recently. For each one, please tell me
whether you have heard of that program and if so, whether you have a
favorable or an unfavorable impression of that program. If you do not
recognize the name, just say so.
86%
Medicare
Medicare Part D - the part of Medicare that
provides a prescription drug plan
Medicare Advantage - the part of Medicare
administered by private health insurance
companies
Favorable
Unfavorable
8%5%
1%
73%
10% 14% 3%
48%
22%
19%
No opinion
12%
Never heard of
Q3-5

7. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Who do you trust more when it comes to the issue of healthcare the
Republicans in Congress, or President Obama and the Democrats in
Congress?
42%
GOP
Both Equal
0%
16%
Neither
37%
Obama-DEM
Unsure
5%
Q50

8. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Do you approve or disapprove of the healthcare reform law better
known as ObamaCare?
57%
35%
8%
Approve
Unsure
Disapprove
Q6

9. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
And, being as specific as you can, what would you say is the single most
important reason why you approve of this new law as it relates to
you, personally?
(If Values 1-2 in Q6, Asked of N= 279 Respondents, or 34.7% of Sample)
Q7-1 Open-Ended Responses
Percent (%)
Everyone needs/should have healthcare
45.9%
Doesn't impact me personally
17.6%
Covers pre-existing conditions
11.9%
Will lower costs/Provide better services
9.0%
Gives me/my family coverage
8.3%
Unsure/Refused
5.3%
Other
2.0%
Q7-1

10. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
And, being as specific as you can, what would you say is the single biggest
worry or concern you have about this new law, based on what you have seen,
read, or heard?
(If Value 3 in Q6, Asked of N= 68 Respondents, or 8.4% of Sample)
Q7-2 Open-Ended Responses
Percent (%)
Don't know enough
39.4%
Too expensive
26.2%
Might not work
15.5%
Unsure/Refused
7.3%
Other
6.8%
Too politicized
4.8%
Q7-2

11. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
And, being as specific as you can, what would you say is the single most
important reason why you disapprove of this new law, as it relates to you
personally?
(If Values 4-5 in Q6, Asked of N=459 Respondents, or 56.9% of Sample)
Q7-3 Open-Ended Responses
Percent (%)
Government takeover / control
18.4%
Increases premiums / individual costs
16.1%
Cancellations / can't keep what they have
10.5%
Doesn't help or affect me
10.0%
Don't think will work
8.5%
Costs too much/Hurts Economy
6.8%
Unsure/Refused
6.7%
Have to buy insurance/ Deal with Insurance
5.9%
Law forced on us / not passed properly
5.5%
Limits Choices/Services
5.1%
Increases dependency / giveaways
3.9%
Other
2.5%
Q7-3

12. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
So far, would you say that you and your immediate family have
personally benefited from, or been negatively affected by the
ObamaCare healthcare law?
49%
27%
15%
9%
Benefited from
No Impact
Negatively affected
Unsure
Q8

13. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Which of the following would you say is your biggest worry or concern
about the impact of President Obama’s health care law? Would you
say it is…
Losing current health insurance
3%
15%
Forced to pay higher premiums
12%
Not able to keep/find doctor
Cuts to Medicare/ Medicare Advantage
10%
IRS responsible
10%
20%
Combo/All
Other
3%
17%
None
Unsure
11%
Q9

14. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Medicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health plan offered by private companies that
provide additional health benefits. As you may or may not know, the Obama
Administration plans to cut Medicare Advantage payment rates again. Thinking about this
issue, I'd like to read you two viewpoints. Please tell me which one comes closest to
your own.
Some people say that the Obama
Administration is correct to cut Medicare
Advantage payment rates.
Medicare Advantage plans are overpaid
by the federal government, and these
plans are gouging taxpayers. This will
force them to better control costs.
Other people say that the Obama
Administration is wrong to cut Medicare
Advantage. It will result
in higher costs, fewer benefits, and loss
of healthcare choices for seniors, and the
Obama Administration is only making
these cuts to help pay for ObamaCare.
54%
25%
Correct decision
Wrong decision
Q21

15. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Medicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health plan offered by private companies that
provide additional health benefits. As you may or may not know, the Obama
Administration plans to cut Medicare Advantage payment rates again. Thinking about this
issue, I'd like to read you two viewpoints. Please tell me which one comes closest to
your own.
Correct to Cut M.A. Payment
Rates
Wrong to Cut M.A.
Overall
25%
54%
Men
24%
55%
Women
26%
53%
Republican
12%
74%
Independent
14%
59%
Democrat
47%
28%
Democratic Senator up for
Re-Election
23%
54%
Have Private Plan
(Advantage)
22%
63%
Have Medicare
24%
53%
Q21

16. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Now, thinking about your views on the ObamaCare law overall -- I'd like to read you two
viewpoints. Please tell me which one comes closest to your own.
Republicans say that the ObamaCare
law is a disaster. Over 7 million
Americans will lose their
employer based insurance, it will cause
companies to cut 2 million jobs, and the
law will not do anything to change the
number of uninsured in the country.
Republicans want to start over and
create a healthcare plan that lowers
healthcare costs by enabling small…*
Democrats say that they are upset
about the problems with the ObamaCare
law, and we need to fix what is wrong
with it, but it is the right thing to do
because it will make healthcare available
to all Americans, eliminate discrimination
for pre-existing conditions, and expand
health insurance coverage for an
additional 32 million Americans. The
Republicans…*
52%
40%
Republican view
*=see questionnaire for wording
Democrat view
Q23

17. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Now I would like to read you a list of characteristics or issue positions that many
Democratic Senators and Members of Congress, as well as Democratic candidates for
the Senate and Congress have taken. Please listen as I read this list and tell me, for each
one, whether knowing about this characteristic or issue position would make you more
likely or less likely to vote for that Democratic Senator, Member of Congress or candidate
for Congress.
A Democratic candidate for Congress supported
ObamaCare despite the fact that it cuts Medicare
Advantage, which nearly 15 million seniors rely on
for healthcare, by $156 billion dollars.
More likely
Unsure
26%
12% 4%
No difference
59%
Less likely
Q26

18. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Now I would like to read you a list of characteristics or issue positions that many
Democratic Senators and Members of Congress, as well as Democratic candidates for
the Senate and Congress have taken. Please listen as I read this list and tell me, for each
one, whether knowing about this characteristic or issue position would make you more
likely or less likely to vote for that Democratic Senator, Member of Congress or candidate
for Congress.
A Democratic candidate for Congress who supports
ObamaCare’s additional cuts to Medicare
Advantage, despite the fact that nearly 15 million
seniors rely on Medicare Advantage for their healthcare
coverage.
More likely
Unsure
31%
No difference
9% 4%
56%
Less likely
Q27

19. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Now I would like to read you a list of characteristics or issue positions that many
Democratic Senators and Members of Congress, as well as Democratic candidates for
the Senate and Congress have taken. Please listen as I read this list and tell me, for each
one, whether knowing about this characteristic or issue position would make you more
likely or less likely to vote for that Democratic Senator, Member of Congress or candidate
for Congress.
More than 500,000 seniors have already had their
Medicare Advantage plans cancelled, and millions more
could lose their coverage next year due to cuts in
ObamaCare. A DEM Candidate still supports the
law, and has voted to keep it in place without changes.
More likely
Unsure
29%
No difference
12% 3%
56%
Less likely
Q32

20. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
Now I would like to read you a list of characteristics or issue positions that many
Democratic Senators and Members of Congress, as well as Democratic candidates for
the Senate and Congress have taken. Please listen as I read this list and tell me, for each
one, whether knowing about this characteristic or issue position would make you more
likely or less likely to vote for that Democratic Senator, Member of Congress or candidate
for Congress.
Democrat Senators and Members of Congress cut
hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicare funding to
pay for the new healthcare law.
More likely
Unsure
26%
11% 4%
No difference
60%
Less likely
Q36

21. February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.
“…tell me, for each one, whether knowing about this characteristic or issue position would make you more likely
or less likely to vote for that Democratic Senator, Member of Congress or candidate for Congress. ”
*** LESS LIKELY ***
Democratic
Strongly
Have
All
Senator Up for Men Women
Independents
Less Likely
Medicare
Re-Elect
26. A Dem. cand. supported OCare
despite the fact that it cuts Medicare
Advantage, which nearly 15 million
seniors rely on for healthcare, by $156
billion dollars.
27. A Dem. cand. who supports
OCare’s additional cuts to Medicare
Advantage, despite the fact that nearly
15 million seniors rely on Medicare
Advantage for their healthcare
coverage.
32. More than 500,000 seniors have
already had their Medicare Advantage
plans cancelled, & millions more could
lose their coverage next year due to
cuts in OCare. A Dem. Cand. still
supports the law, & has voted to keep it
in place without any changes.
36. Dem. Senators & Members of
Congress cut hundreds of billions of
dollars in Medicare funding to pay for
the new healthcare law.
59%
46%
65%
62%
57%
59%
57%
56%
46%
63%
55%
56%
57%
51%
56%
46%
61%
56%
57%
55%
56%
60%
48%
64%
60%
59%
58%
56%