2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Virginia registered voters age 50+ support expanding Medicaid in the state. About two-thirds (64%) of Virginia registered voters age 50+ believe that they or someone they know will need Medicaid coverage in the future. Nearly half say either they or someone they know is extremely (26%) or very likely (21%) to need Medicaid coverage at some point in the future, and another 17 percent say this need is somewhat likely. Many (54%) Virginia registered voters age 50+ support expanding Medicaid to cover adults with no children and who earn up to $15,000 a year. Nearly three times as many say they would be more likely (44%) to vote for a state office candidate who would accept the available federal funds so that more low-income Virginians could get health insurance compared to those who say they would be less likely (16%) to vote for such a candidate. Support for or Opposition to Expanding Medicaid* (n=795) Support, 54% Neither support nor oppose, 9% Likelihood of Voting for a Candidate Who Would Accept Federal Funds for Medicaid Expansion* (n=795) Not sure/no answer, 5% More likely, 44% Not sure/no answer, 7% Oppose, 31% Less likely, 16% Makes no difference, 36% *Percentages may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. *Percentages may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. This AARP survey on Medicaid Expansion was conducted as a telephone survey among Virginia registered voters age 50 and older. The survey was conducted from June 25 to June 29, 2013. A total of 800 interviews were completed and the sample was weighted to reflect the age and gender of registered voters age 50 and older in Virginia. This report is based on 795 weighted responses. The margin of sampling error for this sample is ±3.5 percent. An annotated survey of the weighted responses to the survey questions begins on page 2 followed by a description of the methodology. 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Page 1
2013 Virginia Elections Survey (Survey Sample: 50+ Registered Voters in Virginia) (Weighted N=795, sampling error = ±3.5%) I would like to ask you a few questions about Medicaid, which is the government program that covers health and long-term care for low-income seniors, adults with young children, and disabled persons. Medicaid is jointly funded by the state and federal government. Q1. How likely do you think it is that you or someone you know may need Medicaid coverage at some point in the future? Do you think it is extremely likely, very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely or not at all likely? 26% Extremely likely 21% Very likely 17% Somewhat likely 18% Not very likely 16% Not at all likely 3% Not sure [DO NOT READ] <.5% Refused [DO NOT READ] Q2. As a result of the new health care law, states have the option to expand Medicaid to cover adults with no children who earn up to about $15,000 a year. The federal government will pay one hundred percent of the costs for the first three years, and after that the states will pay ten percent and the federal government will pay ninety percent. How strongly do you support or oppose expanding Virginia s Medicaid program? Do you strongly support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose? 36% Strongly support 19% Somewhat support 9% Neither support nor oppose 11% Somewhat oppose 20% Strongly oppose 6% Not sure [DO NOT READ] 1% Refused [DO NOT READ] Q3. Would you be more or less likely to vote for a state office candidate in Virginia who would accept the available federal funds so that more low-income Virginians could get health insurance or would it make no difference in your voting behavior? 44% More likely 36% Make no difference 16% Less likely 5% Not sure [DO NOT READ] <.5% Refused [DO NOT READ] 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Page 2
Demographics The following questions are for classification purposes only and will be kept entirely confidential. D1. [RECORD RESPONDENT S GENDER. ASK ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY:] To ensure it is recorded accurately, could you please state your gender? 46% Male 54% Female - Refused [DO NOT READ] D2. What is your current marital status? Are you [INSERT AND READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY]? 71% Married 2% Not married, living with your partner or significant other 1% Separated 7% Divorced 9% Widowed 7% Or are you currently single and never married D3. [IF D2 = 1 ASK: Are you or your spouse currently a member of A-A-R-P? IF D2 = 2 ASK: Are you or your partner currently a member of AARP? OTHERWISE ASK Are you currently a member of AARP? ] 43% Yes 54% No 1% Not sure [DO NOT READ] D4. [IF D2 = 1 ASK: Does any disability, handicap, or chronic disease keep you or your spouse from participating fully in work, school, housework, or other activities? IF D2 = 2 ASK: Does any disability, handicap, or chronic disease keep you or your partner from participating fully in work, school, housework, or other activities? OTHERWISE ASK Does any disability, handicap, or chronic disease keep you from participating fully in work, school, housework, or other activities? ] 21% Yes 77% No 1% Not sure [DO NOT READ] D5. Do you have any kind of health care insurance coverage, including employerprovided health insurance, private health insurance, or government plans such as Medicare or Medicaid? 95% Yes 4% No - Not sure [DO NOT READ] 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Page 3
D6. Thinking about who lives in your household, do you currently [INSERT AND READ ITEMS A THROUGH C BELOW]? a. Have any children under age 18 living with you 11% Yes 87% No - Not sure [DO NOT READ] b. Have any children over age 18 living with you 21% Yes 77% No c. Have any children away at college 9% Yes 89% No D7. What is the highest level of education that you completed? [READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY] 6% 0 to 12 th grade, but with no diploma 22% High school graduate or equivalent 10% Post high school education, but with no degree 13% 2 year degree 24% 4 year degree 6% Post graduate study, but with no degree 17% Graduate or professional degree D8. Which of the following best describes your current employment status? [READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY] 6% Self-employed full-time 3% Self-employed part-time 26% Employed full-time 6% Employed part-time 49% Retired and not working at all 3% Unemployed and looking for work 5% Or are you not in the labor force for other reasons 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Page 4
D9. Do you own or rent your primary residence? 89% Own 7% Rent 1% Not sure [DO NOT READ] D10. What type of home is your primary residence? [READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY]? 82% Single family home 3% Mobile home 5% Town home or duplex 4% Apartment 2% Condominium or coop 1% Something else [DO NOT READ] D11. Are you of Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino origin or descent? 3% Yes 93% No 4% Refused [DO NOT READ] D12. What is your race? Are you [INSERT AND READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY]? 80% White or Caucasian 12% Black or African American 1% Native American or Alaskan Native 1% Asian <.5% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 2% Or are you some other race? [Please specify: ] 5% Refused [DO NOT READ] D13. Thinking about your state elections for [INSERT CORRECT STATE] Governor and Legislators in the last 10 years, which of the following best describes your voting behavior? Would you say you vote always, most of the time, about half of the time, seldom, or would you say you never vote? 70% Always 21% Most of the time 3% About half of the time 3% Seldom <.5% Never 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Page 5
D14. Do you consider yourself to be a [INSERT, READ, AND RANDOMIZE ITEMS A, B, C, and D.]? 28% Democrat 27% Republican 28% Independent 3% Tea Party member 4% Other [DO NOT READ] 2% Not sure [DO NOT READ] 8% Refused [DO NOT READ] D15. How would you characterize your political views? Would you say you are [INSERT, READ, AND RANDOMIZE ITEMS A, B, and C. ]? 42% Conservative 33% Moderate 14% Liberal 3% None of these [DO NOT READ] 3% Not sure [DO NOT READ] 5% Refused [DO NOT READ] D16. We realize income is a private matter and so rather than ask you anything specific about your income, I d like to ask you to please stop me when I get to the category that includes your household s income before taxes in 2012. Was it [INSERT AND READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY]? 3% Less than $10,000 6% $10,000 to less than $20,000 7% $20,000 to less than $30,000 10% $30,000 to less than $40,000 7% $40,000 to less than $50,000 7% $50,000 to less than $60,000 7% $60,000 to less than $75,000 12% $75,000 to less than $100,000 9% $100,000 to less than $125,000 4% $125,000 to less than $150,000 3% $150,000 to less than $200,000 4% $200,000 or more 3% Not sure [DO NOT READ] 18% Refused [DO NOT READ] D17. What is your 5-digit zip code? 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Page 6
Full Methodology The 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion was conducted through telephone interviews with a sample of 800 respondents ages 50 and older drawn from a registered voter list from the state of Virginia. The interviews were conducted in English by RDD Field Services from June 25 through June 29, 2013. The results from the study were weighted by age and gender for the registered voter population age 50 and older in Virginia. The margin of error for the complete set of 800 interviews is ±3.5 percent. The report is based on 795 weighted responses. Respondents were screened to insure that they were residents of Virginia, age 50 or older and registered to vote in the state of Virginia. The questionnaire was developed by AARP staff. In order to improve the quality of the data, the questionnaire was pretested with a small number of respondents. The pretest interviews were monitored by RDD Field Services and AARP staff. The response rate for this study was 6.43 percent and was calculated using AAPOR s response rate 3 method. The cooperation rate was 55.79 percent as calculated using AAPOR s cooperation rate 3 method. 1 Throughout the report, statistics representing survey responses are reported in percentages which may not add up to 100 due to rounding and non-response. Also due to rounding, the percentages reported in the text may vary slightly from those in the annotation or in graphs. 1 Calculated using AAPOR s Outcome Rate Calculator Version 2.1, May 2003 2013 AARP Survey of Virginia Registered Voters Age 50+ on Medicaid Expansion Page 7
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org. State Research brings the right knowledge at the right time to our state and national partners in support of their efforts to improve the lives of people age 50+. State Research consultants provide strategic insights and actionable research to attain measurable state and national outcomes. The views expressed herein are for information, debate, and discussion, and do not necessarily represent official policies of AARP. AARP staff from the Virginia State Office, State and National Group and State Research contributed to the design, implementation and reporting of this study. Special thanks go to AARP staff including Peter Goldin, Associate State Director of Advocacy in Virginia and David DeBiasi, Associate State Director of Advocacy in Virginia; Khelan Bhatia, Janee Briesemeister, Glen Fewkes, Chryste Hall and Coralette Hannon, State and National Group; Cheryl Barnes, Kate Bridges, Rachelle Cummins and Darlene Matthews, State Research; and Michael Schuster, Office of General Counsel. Please contact Joanne Binette at 202-434-6303 for more information regarding this survey. AARP Research For more information about this survey, please contact Joanne Binette at: 202.434.6303 or e-mail jbinette@aarp.org