Medicare

Next, we'd like to know how you feel about the state of the nation in each of the following areas. For each one, please say whether you are -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. If you don't have enough information about a particular subject to rate it, just say so. How about -- the Social Security and Medicare systems?

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Very dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2023	13	32	20	25	9
2022	12	26	25	29	9
2021	11	33	25	22	9
2020	12	31	25	26	6
2019	12	33	27	23	6
2018	11	32	25	25	7
2017	14	33	24	22	7
2016	8	32	28	27	5
2015	11	26	27	29	7
2014	12	30	26	25	6
2013	14	29	21	29	7
2012	9	25	28	32	7
2008	8	23	29	35	5
2007	9	23	34	29	5
2006	8	27	24	34	6
2005	8	23	29	36	4
2004	7	24	36	29	4
2003	8	27	31	29	5
2002	9	32	29	26	4
2001	6	32	32	25	5
Gallup

Turning now to Medicare, are you optimistic or pessimistic that, 20 years from now, the Medicare program will still provide all Americans over age 65 with adequate healthcare coverage?

	Optimistic	Pessimistic	No opinion
	%	%	%
2012 Sep 16-17	43	53	4
Gallup

How long do you think it will be until the costs of the Medicare and Social Security programs create a crisis for the federal government -- are they already creating a crisis, will they create a crisis within the next 10 years, within 10 to 20 years, in more than 20 years or not for the foreseeable future?

	Already creating crisis	Within 10 years	Within 10-20 years	More than 20 years	Not for foreseeable future	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2011 Apr	34	33	19	4	7	2
Gallup

Do you think the government should completely overhaul Medicare to control the cost of the program, make major changes to Medicare but not completely overhaul it, make minor changes to Medicare, or should the government not try to control the costs of Medicare?

	Completely overhaul	Make major changes	Make minor changes	Not try to control costs	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2011 Apr 11	13	18	34	27	8
Gallup

Now I'd like to ask you about the major entitlement programs the government is committed to, including Social Security and Medicare. Do you think the cost of these programs will create major economic problems for the U.S. in the next 25 years if no changes are made to them, or not?

	Yes, will	No, will not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2010 Nov 19-21	75	22	3
2010 Sep 13-16	77	18	4
Gallup

If the cost of major entitlement programs does create major economic problems for the U.S., do you think the government should or should not do each of the following to deal with the situation? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

	Yes, should	No, should not	No opinion
	%	%	%
Raise taxes
2010 Sep 13-16	42	56	2
Cut benefits
2010 Sep 13-16	31	66	2
Gallup

As you may know, a new government program began on January 1st that provides prescription drug coverage to Medicare recipients. Based on what you have read or heard, do you think that program is working or not working?

	Working	Not working	No opinion
	%	%	%
National adults
2006 Apr 28-30	36	49	15
2006 Jan 20-22	27	54	20
Adults aged 65+
2006 Apr 28-30	33	53	13
2006 Jan 20-22	20	58	22
Gallup

Do you think it would be better to have -- [ROTATED: the government (or) private insurance companies] -- administer the prescription drug plan for Medicare recipients?

	Government	Private insurance companies	No opinion
	%	%	%
2006 Jan 20-22	43	47	10
Gallup

Have you, personally, joined the new prescription drug benefit program for Medicare recipients, do you plan to join, or do you not plan to join?

Based on adults aged 65 and older

	Joined	Plan to join	Do not plan to join	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2006 Jan 20-22	22	15	55	7
Gallup

How well do you, personally, understand the prescription drug benefit program that will be offered to Medicare recipients -- very well, somewhat well, not too well or not at all?

Based on adults aged 65 and older

	Very well	Somewhat well	Not too well	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2005 Dec 16-18	14	21	30	32	3
2005 Dec 9-11	20	22	26	29	3
2005 Sep 26-28	12	25	32	29	2
2005 Aug 5-7	12	25	33	26	4
2005 Jul 22-24	11	23	40	24	2
Gallup

Do you think the program would save you a lot of money on prescription drugs, save you a little money or not save you any money at all?

Based on adults aged 65 and older

	Save a lot	Save a little	Not save any	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2005 Dec 16-18	7	35	51	7
2005 Dec 9-11	7	39	47	7
Gallup

Thinking now about different ways the government could help pay for prescription drugs for older Americans, which would you prefer -- [ROTATED: a single government plan that covers the same medications and that costs the same for everybody (or) a choice of plans from HMOs and other private companies that vary in what medications they cover and how much they cost]?

	Single government plan	Choice of private plans	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Mar 18-20	62	34	4
Gallup

As you may know, there is a new Medicare law that deals with prescription drug benefits for senior citizens and changes the way Medicare will cover the medical expenses of some senior citizens. Based on what you have heard or read, do you favor or oppose the new prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
National adults
2004 Mar 26-28	41	35	24
2003 Dec 5-7	52	30	18
Aged 65 and older
2004 Mar 26-28	36	48	16
2003 Dec 5-7	46	39	15
Gallup

Which of the following best describes your view of what the changes to Medicare prescription coverage will do to assist seniors who have problems paying for prescription drugs -- [ROTATED: it will help the situation, it will not have much effect or it will hurt the situation]?

	Help	Not have much effect	Hurt	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2004 Mar 26-28	35	30	20	15
Gallup

Which of the following best describes your view of what the changes to Medicare will do to solve the problem of making the Medicare system financially secure for the future -- [ROTATED: it will help the situation, it will not have much effect or it will hurt the situation]?

	Help	Not have much effect	Hurt	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2004 Mar 26-28	18	37	28	17
Gallup

Do you think the -- [RANDOM ORDER] -- go too far, are about right or do not go far enough?

	Too far	About right	Not far enough	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
New prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients
2004 Jan 2-5	9	27	53	11
Changes made in Medicare coverage
2004 Jan 2-5	12	27	50	11
Gallup

Medicare

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