Health Care Proposals Are Deeply Unpopular Among Louisiana’s Largest Voting Block

AARP Louisiana today released new survey data highlighting the deep divide between Americans and Washington politicians over health care policies important to older Americans.

“Health care is a deeply personal issue that has a real and immediate impact on American families across the political spectrum. These survey findings are very clear – people don’t support legislation that would mean higher costs and less coverage for older Americans,” said Denise Bottcher, AARP Louisiana State President. “AARP urges Senator Bill Cassidy to oppose any bill that would raise premiums, price people with pre-existing conditions out of coverage, weaken Medicare and make cuts to Medicaid that would reduce services for those most in need.”

More details from the survey are below :

• The Age Tax: 89% of Louisiana voters age 50+ oppose charging older Americans five times more than others for their healthcare plan while just 9% support the drastic cost increase. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose the age tax includes 89% of Republicans, 93% of Independents, and 86% of Democrats
•  Medicare Cuts: 83% of Louisiana voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicare and increasing premiums for current and future seniors, while just 12% support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicare cuts includes 79% of Republicans, 81% of Independents, and 89% of Democrats.
• Removal of Pre-existing Condition Protections: 79% of Louisiana voters age 50+ oppose charging people with pre-existing conditions more for their coverage, while just 18% support doing so. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose removal of this protection includes 71% of Republicans, 77% of Independents, and 91% of Democrats.
• Tax Breaks for Big Drug and Insurance Companies: 75% of Louisiana voters age 50+ oppose providing tax breaks for insurance and drug companies, while just 20% support such breaks. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose tax breaks for big drug and insurance companies includes 67% of Republicans, 75% of Independents, and 84% of Democrats
• Medicaid Funding Cuts: 73% of Louisiana voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicaid, while just 23% support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicaid cuts includes 67% of Republicans, 73% of Independents, and 81% of Democrats.

Methodology: AARP commissioned a telephone survey among 600 likely voters age 50+ in Louisiana. The sample utilized an age-targeted registered voter landline and cell phone list who were contacted between June 2 and June 13, 2017. The data were weighted by age, gender, race/ethnicity and geographic region and are generalizeable to registered voters in Louisiana age 50+. The survey has a margin of sampling error of ±4 percent. The survey annotation will be made available at www.aarp.org/2017healthcaresurvey.