Skip to content
 

AARP National Member Survey About 2006 Election Issues - June 26, 2006

AARP Member Opinion Research

Every candidate for elected office in the United States knows that older Americans are the most likely to read newspapers, stay apprised of issues, register to vote, and actually turn out on Election Day. The results of this June 2006 telephone survey of a representative sample of AARP members across the United States reflects their concern and opinions about a wide range of domestic issues affecting their health and financial security.

Of the 1,000 AARP members surveyed...

  • 90 percent support allowing Medicare to use its bargaining power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs
  • 81 percent oppose using Social Security taxes to fund private accounts
  • 72 percent support a shared approach whereby the federal government, employers and individuals together pay for providing health care coverage for everyone
  • 71 percent support a Social Security plan that provides guaranteed benefits to future generations by balancing additional contributions from higher income workers with modest reductions in future benefits
  • 69 percent support a shared approach that involves both government and individuals paying for long-term care
  • 66 percent oppose changing the traditional Medicare program by imposing an annual limit on federal Medicare spending

The national list-assisted random digit dial telephone survey of 1,000 AARP members was conducted for AARP by Woelfel Research, Inc. between June 8 and 11. Further information about the survey may be obtained by contacting William Wright, Ph.D. of AARP Knowledge Management at wwright@aarp.org or 202-434-6278. (24 pages)