A National Survey of 65+ Voter Attitudes

February 16-20, 2014

#14136

February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.

Respondent age

65-70

71-75

76-80

80+

Refused

42%

23%

15%

14%

7%

February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.

Health Insurance Type

Private Plan

Medicare

Other

Unsure

26%

57%

10%

8%

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?

Approve Unsure Disapprove

36%

7%

57%

Q1

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?

Republican47%

Undecided15%

Democrat38%

Q2

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.

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

86%

73%

48%

8%

10%

22%

5%

14%

19%

1%

3%

12%

Favorable Unfavorable No opinion Never heard of

Q3-5

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?

GOP

Both Equal

Neither

Obama-DEM

Unsure

42%

0%

16%

37%

5%

Q50

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?

Approve Unsure Disapprove

35%

8%

57%

Q6

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

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

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

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?

Benefited from No Impact Negatively affected Unsure

15%

49%

27%

9%

Q8

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

Forced to pay higher premiums

Not able to keep/find doctor

Cuts to Medicare/ Medicare Advantage

IRS responsible

Combo/All

Other

None

Unsure

3%

15%

12%

10%

10%

20%

3%

17%

11%

Q9

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 decision Wrong decision

25%

54%

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 resultin 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.

Q21

February 16-20, 2014 / N=800 registered “likely” 65+ voters / ±3.5% M.O.E.

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

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.

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.

Republican view Democrat view

52%

40%

Republicans say that the ObamaCare law is a disaster. Over 7 million

Americans will lose theiremployer 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…*

Q23*=see questionnaire for wording

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.

26% 12% 4% 59%

More likely Unsure No difference Less likely

Q26

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.

31% 9% 4% 56%

More likely Unsure No difference Less likely

Q27

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 Ad-vantage plans cancelled, and millions more could lose their cov-

erage next year due to cuts in ObamaCare. A DEM Candidate still supports the law, and has voted to keep it in place without

changes.

29% 12%3% 56%

More likely Unsure No difference Less likely

Q32

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 bil-lions of dollars in Medicare funding to pay for the new healthcare law. 26% 11%4% 60%

More likely Unsure No difference Less likely

Q36

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 ***

  All Strongly Less Likely

Democratic Senator Up for

Re-ElectMen Women Have

Medicare Independents

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.

59% 46% 65% 62% 57% 59% 57%

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.

56% 46% 63% 55% 56% 57% 51%

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.

56% 46% 61% 56% 57% 55% 56%

36. Dem. Senators & Members of Congress cut hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicare funding to pay for

the new healthcare law.

60% 48% 64% 60% 59% 58% 56%