A majority of Americans over age 50 oppose measures in the House-proposed ACA replacement bill that would drive up healthcare costs for older individuals, according to a recent AARP survey.
Benenson Strategy Group and GS Strategy conducted the survey on behalf of AARP to better understand older voters' opinions on healthcare and the AHCA. The two groups polled 605 registered voters aged 50 and up — who voted in the 2016 election — via telephone interviews from March 10-13. The survey took place prior to recently announced changes to the AHCA.
Here are four survey findings.
1. Almost three-fourths of respondents (73 percent) and Trump voters (74 percent) felt high drug costs were caused by major drugmakers and the deals their lobbyist make, according to the report.
2. Seventy-eight percent of respondents and 67 percent of Trump voters favored allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs over transforming Medicare into a voucher program.
3. Trump voters said lowering drug costs (94 percent) and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices (96 percent) is more important than building a wall along the Mexico border (77 percent).
4. Seventy-three percent of respondents and 55 percent of Trump voters wanted Congress should maintain current levels of Medicaid funding.
"Older Americans want affordable healthcare — including less expensive prescription drugs and continued protections for the most vulnerable," said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond in a statement. "When Americans over age 50 look at the details of the House health care reform plan, they don't like what they see. They don't want big insurance and drug companies to reap massive profits at their expense."
To view the full report, click here.
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