8/13/2019 AAN Harper Polling VA Memo Medicare Advantage

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121 State Street HarperPolling.com Brock@HarperPolling.comHarrisburg, PA 17101

TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Brock McCleary, President

DATE: February 6, 2014

RE: Key FindingsVirginia Survey

How Harmful Would Cuts To Medicare Advantage Be?

Virginia voters have a positive opinion of the Medicare Advantage program (45% favorable, 20%

unfavorable). This sentiment is consistent across party line as Republicans (45-21%), Democrats (49-

17%) and independents (39-21%) all rate the program favorably.

Conversely, Virginia voters have a strongly negative opinion of the new health care law known as

Obamacare (37% favorable, 52% unfavorable). Eighty-eight percent of Republicans have an unfavorable

opinion of Obamacare while 72% of Democrats have a favorable opinion. By a margin of 58-32%,

independents hold a negative view of Obamacare.

There is strong disapproval among voters for cutting payment rates for Medicare Advantage in 2014

(22% approve, 52% disapprove). Ideologically, self-identified conservatives (-77%), moderates (-15%)

and liberals (-9%) disapprove of cutting Medicare Advantage.

In fact, voters are 44% less likely to support a candidate who supports further cuts to Medicare

Advantage in the coming year. Additionally, 55% are less likely to support a candidate who supports

cuts to Medicare Advantage that will lead to higher health care costs and fewer choices for seniors,

including 64% of Hispanic or Latino voters.

Moreover, 49% of voters are less likely to support a candidate who voted to cut Medicare to pass and

fund Obamacare in 2010 and now supports additional cuts to Medicare Advantage.Only 16% are more

likely.

In a stereotypical choice between two candidates on the issue of Obamacare, 52% of voters prefer an

opponent of Obamacare and is calling for repeal or major changes to the law while 39% prefer a

supporter of President Obamas new health care law but wants modest changes to the law.

Fifty-three percent of Virginia voters are less likely to support a candidate who voted for Obamacare and

told his constituents, Im not going to support a health care reform plan that is going to take away

health care that youve got. There is no gender gap on the issue as 52% of male voters and 54% of

female voters are less likely to support this candidate.

METHODOLOGY:

The sample size for the survey is 936 likely 2014 voters and the margin of error is +/- 3.2 %. The

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) automated telephone survey was conducted February 4-5, 2014 by

Harper Polling on behalf of American Action Network. The total percentages for responses may not

equal 100% due to rounding.