Health Care Proposals Deeply Unpopular Among WV's Largest Voting Block

AARP West Virginia released new survey data on June 22, 2017, 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 thousands of older West Virginians,” said Gaylene Miller, AARP West Virginia State Director. “AARP urges Senator Shelley Moore Capito 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:

• The Age Tax: 92% of West Virginia voters age 50+ oppose charging older Americans five times more than others for their healthcare plan, while just 5% support the drastic cost increase. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose the age tax includes 90% of Republicans, 91% of Independents, and 95% of Democrats.
• Medicare Cuts: 89% of West Virginia voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicare and increasing premiums for current and future seniors, while just 8% support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicare cuts includes 79% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 93% of Democrats.
• Removal of Pre-existing Condition Protections: 86% of West Virginia voters age 50+ oppose charging people with pre-existing conditions more for their coverage, while just 12% support doing so. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose removal of this protection includes 77% of Republicans, 87% of Independents, and 91% of Democrats.
• Tax Breaks for Big Drug and Insurance Companies: 80% of West Virginia 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, 81% of Independents, and 87% of Democrats.
• Medicaid Funding Cuts: 78% of West Virginia voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicaid, while just 19% support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicaid cuts includes 70% of Republicans, 76% of Independents, and 85% of Democrats.

Methodology: AARP commissioned a telephone survey among 602 likely voters age 50+ in West Virginia. 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 generalizable to registered voters in West Virginia 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.