Most Senior Citizens Misinformed, Unaware of Key
Provisions of the Affordable Care Act
National Council on Aging launches educational
campaign after finding even among older adults who considered themselves
familiar with the new law, correct answers were 'few and far between'
July 27, 2010 - A national survey of senior
citizens - people aged 65 and older - for the National Council on Aging
(NCOA) finds that most seniors are still confused or unaware of
important aspects of health reform, or the Affordable Care Act,
including its impact on their own Medicare coverage, the growth of
Medicare, and the budget deficit. NCOA will launch national campaign to
help older Americans better understand the new law and its impact on
seniors.
For older people: expanded Medicaid, coordinated care
for Medicare-Medicaid patients, help for employers to insure early
retirees, FDA can approve cheaper drugs
NCOA identified the top twelve facts that every
senior should know about the health reform law. The "Straight Talk" poll
reveals that only 17% of seniors knew the correct answers to more than
half the factual questions posed about these key aspects of new law and
only 9% knew the correct answers to at least two-thirds of the
questions.
None of the 636 older adults interviewed for the
poll knew the correct answers to all twelve of the factual questions.
"Seniors need to know the key facts about health
reform so that they can be informed consumers and educated citizens,"
James Firman, president and CEO of NCOA. He announced the launch of
NCOA's "Straight Talk for Seniors on Health Reform" campaign, aimed at
helping seniors get the facts they need about health reform and changes
to Medicare.
The campaign will continue through the fall with
additional town hall and educational events, a series of "Straight Talk"
educational materials (available at
www.NCOA.org/StraightTalk), an interactive online "Straight Talk"
quiz for people to test their knowledge of the law and learn more about
it, detailed poll results, and webinars to prepare aging services
professionals to give "Straight Talk" presentations in their own
communities.
Firman announced the campaign while speaking at a
town hall meeting at Iona Senior Service Center in Washington, DC.,
after the polling results by Harris Interactive were introduced. The
poll was conducted by telephone from July 9-12, 2010 among a nationwide
cross section of 636 adults aged 65 and over. The poll was supported by
a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.
Poll Reveals Widespread Confusion, Even on
Issues Most Important to Seniors
David Krane, Vice President of Public Affairs and
Policy Research at Harris, gave a briefing on the NCOA "Straight Talk"
poll.
The poll revealed that even questions with the most
direct bearing on seniors and their health drew high numbers of
incorrect answers. For example, only 22% of seniors understood that the
new law would not cut their basic Medicare benefits. Almost twice as
many seniors (42%) held the incorrect view that the law would cut their
basic Medicare benefits, while 37% said they did not know.
And with the federal budget deficit looming large
in policy debates, it was striking that only 14% of seniors were aware
that the new law is projected to reduce the deficit. Many more -- 49% --
incorrectly believed it would increase the deficit. (According to
projections by the Congressional Budget Office, the law will reduce the
deficit by an estimated $124 billion over 10 years).
"The health reform debate was long and complicated
and often dominated by political spin that confused seniors," said James
Firman, president and CEO of NCOA.
"NCOA is committed to helping seniors
get the key facts and information they need to make smart, informed
decisions about their own health care. The fact that this poll revealed
that so many people are misinformed or don't know much about the new law
means we have our work cut out for us with the "Straight Talk for
Seniors on Health Reform" campaign."
Poll Results At Odds With Seniors' Impressions
of Their Knowledge
Even among the older adults who said they
considered themselves "very familiar" (9%) or "familiar" (12%) with the
new law, correct answers were few and far between, calling into question
how well people were able to assess their understanding of the
Affordable Care Act.
"Seniors are certainly confused about the
Affordable Care Act, but interestingly, many of them also overestimated
their own degree of knowledge," remarked David Krane of Harris
Interactiveฎ, which conducted the poll. "Those who said they were "very
familiar" or "familiar" with the law only fared somewhat better than
those who self-identified as "not familiar." In the "very familiar" and
"familiar" categories, 65% got less than half the answers right,
compared with 85% of the people who self-identified as "not familiar."
Seniors Dissatisfied with Available Information
A significant number of seniors (38%) said they
were "not at all satisfied" with the accuracy and reliability of the
information they had received about the new law. Very few (7%) said they
were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" (17%).
"Unfortunately, this finding comes as no surprise,"
says NCOA's Firman. "Everywhere I go seniors tell me that what they
really want is information they can understand and rely on, from an
organization they trust, whose only agenda is helping them get the
facts. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own
facts. NCOA is proud to launch our "Straight Talk" campaign to continue
to meet this need among the nation's millions of older adults and their
families and caregivers."
Other Important Findings
Seniors' highest rate of correct answers came on a
question about whether the law expands coverage to 32 million uninsured
Americans (43% correctly answered "yes"). Seniors also showed relatively
high awareness of the provision to gradually close the Medicare
prescription drug coverage gap, or "donut hole," with 42% giving the
correct answer.
Exploring a range of topics, from new care
provisions to the financing of the new law, the poll also found that:
● Only 14% of seniors knew that the law does not
cut Medicare payments to doctors; 45% answered incorrectly and 41% said
they did not know.
● Only 24% of seniors knew that it is projected
to extend the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund.
● Only 28% knew that the law improves the
availability of long-term care at home for seniors with disabilities.
● Only 22% knew about improvements in chronic
care.
● Only 33% knew about the new, free yearly
wellness visit Medicare will now provide.
● Two out of three seniors either did not know
(43%) or gave the wrong answer about the future growth of Medicare
spending. Only 34% knew that it will continue to grow under the new law,
just more slowly.
Video of Krane's briefing will be available later
on Monday July 26 at
http://ventanadc.com/clients/NCOA/POLLSTER/. The rest of the
presentation will be available shortly thereafter.
About NCOA
The National Council on Aging says it is a
non-profit service and advocacy organization headquartered in
Washington, DC. NCOA says it is a national voice for older Americans -
especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged - and the
community organizations that serve them. It brings together non-profit
organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions
that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of
organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits,
improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their
communities. For more information, visit
http://www.NCOA.org/.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
July 27, 2010 - A national survey of senior
citizens - people aged 65 and older - for the National Council on Aging
(NCOA) finds that most seniors are still confused or unaware of
important aspects of health reform, or the Affordable Care Act,
including its impact on their own Medicare coverage, the growth of
Medicare, and the budget deficit. NCOA will launch national campaign to
help older Americans better understand the new law and its impact on
seniors.
