AARP Montana Member Opinion Survey

AARP conducted this survey of its members in Montana to explore their concerns and interests, and their preferences for involvement with the association and getting information from it.

High among AARP members' expressed concerns are issues surrounding health and long-term care. These concerns are echoed in their top legislative priorities: access to affordable prescription drugs and the availability, cost and quality of health care. Of those surveyed...

• 62 percent have paid at least $50 out-of-pocket monthly for prescription drugs in the last 12 months
• 76 percent support a prescription drug assistance program for low-income residents
• 72 percent support increasing the tax on cigarettes to finance such a program.

The safety of their pension and retirement benefits is also of extreme concern to 77 percent.

While 73 percent support increasing the tax on alcohol and 55 percent support increasing the corporate income tax in order to balance the state budget, 87 percent oppose increasing property or state income taxes. At the same time, 70 percent favor continuing use of the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund to maintain government services and programs.

This mail survey of 1,178 of the approximately 135,514 AARP members in Montana was conducted in August and September 2002. The report was prepared by Erica Dinger of AARP Knowledge Management. For more information, please, contact the project manager, Jennifer H. Sauer of AARP Knowledge Management at 202/434-6207. (38 pages)