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

Large Majorities of Older Voters Across Party Lines Oppose the Age Tax, Removal of Pre-existing Condition Protections, Medicare and Medicaid Cuts

AARP Nevada 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 Maria Dent, State Director of AARP Nevada. “AARP urges Senator Heller 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: 90% of Nevada voters age 50+ oppose charging older Americans five times more than others for their healthcare plan while just seven-percent support the drastic cost increase. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose the age tax includes 80% of Republicans, 90% of Independents, and 97% of Democrats.
• Medicare Cuts: 85% of Silver State voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicare and increasing premiums for current and future seniors, while just 11% support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicare cuts includes 70% of Republicans, 87% of Independents, and 97% of Democrats.
• Removal of Pre-existing Condition Protections: 81% of Nevada voters age 50+ oppose charging people with pre-existing conditions more for their coverage, while just 16% support doing so. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose removal of this protection includes 68% of Republicans, 79% of Independents, and 94% of Democrats.
• Tax Breaks for Big Drug and Insurance Companies: 79% of Nevada voters age 50+ oppose providing tax breaks for insurance and drug companies, while just 14% support such breaks. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose tax breaks for big drug and insurance companies includes 72% of Republicans, 76% of Independents, and 86% of Democrats.
• Medicaid Funding Cuts: 75% of Nevada voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicaid, while just 21% support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicaid cuts includes 60% of Republicans, 77% of Independents, and 87% of Democrats.

Methodology: AARP commissioned a telephone survey among 603 likely voters age 50+ in Nevada. 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 Nevada 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.