Divided We Fail: Key Findings in Nevada

Health care costs are skyrocketing and retirement savings are inadequate. The American people have said that these issues are top domestic priorities and they want action, answers and accountability from our elected officials now.

Health care costs too much.

• Nine in ten (90%) of AARP members in Nevada say that they are concerned about affording the cost of health care.
• Eight in ten (83%) of Nevadans age 50 and older who are uninsured are under the age of 65.
• Of those without health insurance, four in ten cite high costs as the reason they are uninsured.
• Almost half (47%) of Nevadans age 50-59 have delayed medical care due to cost within the last year.

Too many Nevadans are uninsured.

• Almost two in ten Nevadans (17%) are uninsured.
• 14.9% of Nevada's children up to age 18 are uninsured.
• 21% of adult Nevadans age 19-64 are uninsured.

The cost of prescription drugs worries older Nevadans.

• Almost 9 in ten (87%) AARP members in Nevada say that they are concerned about affording the cost of prescription drugs.
• On average, Nevadans age 50 and older spend $68.19 per month on prescription drugs and take approximately 3 prescriptions on a regular basis.

Lifetime financial security is at the core of the American dream.

Older Nevadans continue to work past traditional retirement age, because they want or need to.

• Almost one-third (32%) of AARP members (50 and over) in Nevada say they are extremely or very likely to work beyond retirement. Six in ten (62%) of these members say that needing or wanting extra income is the top factor in continuing to work.
• Almost seven in ten (68%) of Nevadans age 50-59 are either semi-retired/ still working.
• Almost four in ten (36%) of Nevadans age 60-69 are semi-retired/still working.
• Almost one in ten (9%) of Nevadans age 70-84 are semi-retired/still working.
• Six percent of Nevadans age 85 and older are semi-retired/still working.

Older Nevadans rely on Social Security, pensions and work to meet their expenses.

• More than half (57%) of Nevadans age 50 and older depend on Social Security as a source of income.
• More than one-third (36%) of Nevadans age 50 and older are still employed.

Fixed income Nevadans have to watch every penny.

• Of Nevadans age 50 and older living on a fixed income, nearly half have a total household income of less than $35,000 annually.
  • Almost one-third (31%) have a household income of less than $15,000 annually.
  • More than one in ten (14%) have a household income of less than $10,000 annually.
• More than eight in ten AARP members (84%) in Nevada are concerned about having enough money to meet daily living expenses.
• More than eight in ten AARP members (83%) are concerned about assuring that their pension benefits and retirement savings are safe.
• Only one-quarter of Nevadans age 50 and older indicated that they had savings or investment income.

Footnotes

1. Associated Press/AOL/IPSOS Public Affairs, conducted January 16-18, 2007.
2. AARP Nevada Survey of Members: Work and Retirement, February, 2007.
3. “Portrait of Nevada Seniors Survey Project,” Task Force for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada, University of Nevada Las Vegas, August 2006.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement 2006, U.S. Census Bureau.
7. Ibid.
8. “Portrait of Nevada Seniors Survey Project,” Task Force for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada, University of Nevada Las Vegas, August 2006.
9. AARP Nevada Survey of Members: Work and Retirement, February 2007.
10. “Portrait of Nevada Seniors Survey Project,” Task Force for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada, University of Nevada Las Vegas, August 2006.
11. “Portrait of Nevada Seniors Survey Project,” Task Force for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada, University of Nevada Las Vegas, August 2006.
12. Ibid.
13. AARP Nevada Survey of Members: Work and Retirement, February, 2007.
14. “Portrait of Nevada Seniors Survey Project,” Task Force for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada, University of Nevada Las Vegas, August 2006.
    
    

Written by Terri Guengerich, AARP Knowledge Management

April 2007
©2007 AARP
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