medicare powerpoint

Research Findings on SCHIP Funding Alternatives

National Poll of Seniors

July, 2007

The Feldman Group, Inc. The Feldman Group, Inc. –– July 2007July 2007Slide 2

MethodologyMethodology

Survey of Seniors: A survey of likely 2008 voters age 65 and over. Survey conducted July 26th – July 30th.

Sample Size: 603Margin of Error: ±4.0%


OutlineOutline

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

CIGARETTE TAX

POLITICAL CONTEXT


61 16

0 20 40 60 80

Medicare remains the third rail of politics. Medicare remains the third rail of politics.

Favor

Oppose

9

77

Strongly Moderately

Question:

One proposal currently in front of Congress would cut funding to Medicare to pay for the increase in funding for children’s health insurance.

Do you favor or oppose cutting Medicare to fund children’s health insurance?

Do you feel that way strongly or moderately?


47 16

0 20 40 60

Nearly two-thirds of all seniors would be less likely to vote for their congressman if he or she voted to cut funding for Medicare.

Nearly two-thirds of all seniors would be less likely to vote for their congressman if he or she voted to cut funding for Medicare.

More Likely

Less Likely

8

63

Much Somewhat

Question:

If your congressman voted to cut funding to Medicare to pay for fifty billion dollars in funding for children’s health insurance, would you be more or less likely to vote for him or her in 2008?

Is that much (MORE/LESS) likely or somewhat (MORE/LESS) likely?

No DiffNo Diff 5


OutlineOutline

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

CIGARETTE TAX

POLITICAL CONTEXT


53

7

40Heard of Medicare Advantage

Unsure/refuse

Have not heard of Medicare Advantage

Only 40 percent of seniors have heard of Medicare Advantage, while 53 percent have not heard of the program.

Only 40 percent of seniors have heard of Medicare Advantage, while 53 percent have not heard of the program.


Seniors heard a balanced description of Medicare Advantage.Seniors heard a balanced description of Medicare Advantage.

Question: The part of Medicare that some people have proposed cutting is Medicare Advantage, a part of Medicare that is administered by private health insurance companies.

Medicare Advantage plans often have lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors. Medicare Advantage plans cover more services than traditional Medicare, often including vision, dental, and hearing benefits, as well as prescription drug coverage and better preventative care.

Medicare Advantage costs the federal government 12 percent more than traditional Medicare, meaning all of the other Medicare recipients pay about $2 more per month to cover these costs. Medicare Advantage is administered by private health insurance companies, leading to bigger profits for health insurance companies.

Do you favor or oppose cutting Medicare Advantage to fund children’s health insurance programs?


49 12

4 10

0 20 40 60 80

After hearing a balanced description, seniors opposed cutting Medicare Advantage to fund children’s health insurance. After hearing a balanced description, seniors opposed cutting Medicare Advantage to fund children’s health insurance.

14

61

Medicare Advantage EnrolleesMedicare Advantage Enrollees

28 12

1613

0 20 40 60 80

29

40

Non MA EnrolleesNon MA Enrollees

Favor

Oppose

Strongly Moderately


39 18

8 12

0 20 40 60

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, seniors say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, seniors say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

More Likely

Less Likely

20

57

No DiffNo Diff 5

24 14

12 14

0 20 40 60

26

38

8

Medicare Advantage EnrolleesMedicare Advantage Enrollees Non MA EnrolleesNon MA EnrolleesMuch Somewhat


SubgroupsSubgroups

• Union Members:

– Twenty-nine (29) percent of seniors identify as either current or former union members.

• AARP Members:

– Fifty-seven (57) percent of seniors say they are members of AARP.

• Low Income Voters:

– Twenty-seven (27) percent of seniors say their household income is less than $25,000 per year.


27 15

11 13

0 20 40 60

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, union members say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, union members say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

More Likely

Less Likely

24

42

No DiffNo Diff 8

29 15

12 11

0 20 40 60

23

44

7

All SeniorsAll Seniors Union MembersUnion Members


27 15

11 13

0 20 40 60

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, AARPmembers say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, AARPmembers say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

More Likely

Less Likely

24

42

No DiffNo Diff 8

28 16

9 15

0 20 40 60

24

44

8

All SeniorsAll Seniors AARP MembersAARP Members


27 15

11 13

0 20 40 60

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, low income seniors say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

After hearing a balanced description of Medicare Advantage, low income seniors say they would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut Medicare Advantage in order to fund children’s health insurance.

More Likely

Less Likely

24

42

No DiffNo Diff 8

29 13

13 13

0 20 40 60

26

42

2

All SeniorsAll Seniors Income of Less than $25,000Income of Less than $25,000


OutlineOutline

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

CIGARETTE TAX

POLITICAL CONTEXT


16

66

3

10

0 20 40 60 80

Over three-quarters of all seniors favor increasing the cigarette tax to fund children’s health insurance.Over three-quarters of all seniors favor increasing the cigarette tax to fund children’s health insurance.

Favor

Oppose

76

19

Strongly Moderately

Question:

Another proposal currently in front of Congress would raise the tax on cigarettes to pay for the increase in funding for children’s health insurance.

Do you favor or oppose raising the tax on cigarettes to fund children’s health insurance programs?



63 11

0 20 40 60 80

In order to fund SCHIP, nearly three-quarters of seniors would prefer raising the cigarette tax instead of cutting Medicare Advantage.

In order to fund SCHIP, nearly three-quarters of seniors would prefer raising the cigarette tax instead of cutting Medicare Advantage.

Increase Cig Tax

Cut Med Adv

74

5

Strongly Moderately

Question:

In order to fund children’s health insurance programs, would you rather your congressman voted to: (ROTATE)

Increase the cigarette tax by sixty-one cents to one dollar per pack

OR

Cut funding to Medicare Advantage?


NeitherNeither 12

July, 2007

Roy Temple

PrincipalThe Feldman Group, Inc.

[email protected]

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