CBS News/New York Times Poll. May 4-8, 2006. N=1,241 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3); with an oversample, 500 adults 65 & older (MoE ± 4); 190 adults 65 & older enrolled in the Medicare drug program.

.

"Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to make prescription drugs for the elderly more affordable?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

18

61

2

5

14

.

"From what you've heard or read, in general how easy or difficult is the Medicare prescription drug plan to understand? Is it very easy to understand, somewhat easy to understand, somewhat difficult to understand, or very difficult to understand?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

3

13

38

32

14

6

13

30

45

6

11

20

23

42

4

.

"Have you, personally, joined the new prescription drug benefit program for Medicare recipients, do you plan to join, or do you not plan to join?"

.

%

%

%

%

39

10

48

3

.

"May 15th is the deadline for enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug plan. Anyone who wants to enroll after May 15th will have to pay a penalty fee. Do you think Medicare should or should not extend the May 15 deadline in order to give people more time to enroll in the Medicare drug plan WITHOUT PENALTY?"

.

%

%

%

81

15

4

.

"Was the process of enrolling in the new Medicare prescription drug program very easy, fairly easy, fairly difficult, or very difficult?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

37

24

16

17

6

.

"Since enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug program, are you now spending more, less or about the same as before on prescription drugs?"

.

%

%

%

%

19

42

30

9

.

"Do you think that eventually the Medicare drug plan will or will not significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly?"

.

%

%

%

All adults

36

45

19

40

44

17

51

37

13

USA Today/Gallup Poll. April 28-30, 2006. N=1,011 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3), including 247 adults 65 & older (MoE ± 7).

.

"As you may know, a new government program began on January 1st that provides prescription drug coverage to Medicare recipients. Based on what you have read or heard, do you think that program is working or not working?"

.

ALL adults:

.

Adults 65 & older:

.

"Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a member of Congress who supported the Medicare prescription drug benefit program?"

.

ALL adults:

.

Adults 65 & older:

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. March 8-12, 2006. Adults nationwide.

.

"There is now a new Medicare law that includes some coverage of prescription drug costs for seniors. Overall, would you say you strongly approve, approve, disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the way Medicare will now cover prescription drug costs?" N=1,405, MoE ± 3

.

3/8-12/06

.

"On balance, do you think the new Medicare prescription drug plan will be very good, good, bad, or very bad for [see below]?" N=695, MoE ± 4 (Form 2)

.

"Drug companies"

   3/8-12/06

.

"Seniors on Medicare"

   3/8-12/06

.

"The financial stability of Medicare"

   3/8-12/06

.

"The federal budget deficit"

   3/8-12/06

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 20-22, 2006. N=1,006 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

.

"Do you think it would be better to have the government or private insurance companies administer the prescription drug plan for Medicare recipients?"

.

.

Asked of adults 65 & older (N=229, MoE ± 7):
"Have you, personally, joined the new prescription drug benefit program for Medicare recipients, do you plan to join, or do you not plan to join?"

.

.

Asked of adults under age 65 (N=772, MoE ± 4):
"Has anyone in your immediate family joined the new prescription drug benefit program for Medicare recipients, or not?"

.

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Dec. 2-6, 2005. N=1,155 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How much have you heard or read about the Medicare prescription drug benefit which is scheduled to begin in 2006: a lot, some, not much, or nothing at all?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

19

31

27

22

1

15

35

31

19

0

.

"From what you've heard or read, in general how easy or difficult is the Medicare prescription drug plan to understand? Is it very easy to understand, somewhat easy to understand, somewhat difficult to understand, or very difficult to understand?"

.

%

1

11

32

25

9

.

22

.

"From what you know, will the Medicare prescription drug plan significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly or will it not significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs?"

.

%

17

41

20

.

22

.

"Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to make the right decisions about Medicare?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

24

54

3

4

15

Quinnipiac University Poll. Jan. 25-31, 2005. N=2,100 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 2.1.

.

"Which of these statements do you think best describes the Medicare system: it is in a state of crisis, it has major problems, it has minor problems, or it does not have any problems?"

.