Health care proposals are deeply unpopular among Maine’s largest voting block

PORTLAND — AARP Maine 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 – Mainers don’t support legislation that would mean higher costs and less coverage for older Americans,” said Lori Parham, AARP Maine State Director. “AARP urges Senator Collins 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 at-risk, including low and middle-income seniors in need of long-term care supports.”

More details from the survey are below:

The Age Tax: 94 percent of Maine voters age 50+ oppose charging older Americans five times more than others for their healthcare plan, while just 4 percent support the drastic cost increase. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose the age tax includes 88 percent of Republicans, 96 percent of Independents, and 98 percent of Democrats.

Medicare Cuts: 89 percent of Maine voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicare and

increasing premiums for current and future seniors, while just 9 percent support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicare cuts includes 82 percent of Republicans, 89 percent of Independents, and 95 percent of Democrats.

Removal of Pre-existing Condition Protections: 83 percent of Maine voters age 50+ oppose charging people with pre-existing conditions more for their coverage, while just 15 percent support doing so. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose removal of this protection includes 67 percent of Republicans, 83 percent of Independents, and 95 percent of Democrats.

Tax Breaks for Big Drug and Insurance Companies: 83 percent of Maine voters age 50+ oppose providing tax breaks for insurance and drug companies, while just 11 percent support such breaks. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose tax breaks for big drug and insurance companies includes 73 percent of Republicans, 87 percent of Independents, and 89 percent of Democrats.

Medicaid Funding Cuts: 79 percent of Maine voters age 50+ oppose cutting funding for Medicaid, while just 18 percent support the harmful cuts. The proportion of age 50+ voters who oppose Medicaid cuts includes 68 percent of Republicans, 81 percent of Independents, and 88 percent of Democrats.

Methodology: AARP commissioned a telephone survey among 601 likely voters age 50+ in Maine. 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 Maine 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.