2013 TSCL Senior Survey

Your answers to this survey will help TSCL educate Members of Congress, the media and the public about the views, experiences, and challenges facing seniors as they relate to Medicare and Social Security.

Which of the following most closely represents the amount that the 1.7% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increases your monthly benefit for 2013?
Which of the following most closely represents the amount that your total monthly expenses increased during 2012?
Of the percentages shown below which most closely represents the total portion of your Social Security benefit that you spend on all healthcare costs? (Please include the cost of premiums, deductibles, co-pays and uncovered costs.)
Medicare reform is on the Congressional agenda for 2013. The following are a number of the most-discussed proposals to improve Medicare’s financing. Please select the response that most closely agrees with how you feel about the proposal.
Gradually raise the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 67.
Increase Medicare premiums for all beneficiaries.
Increase Medicare premiums for wealthy beneficiaries.
Require new Medicare enrollees who enroll in a Medigap plan to pay a 30% surcharge on their premiums.
Require all beneficiaries to pay a $550 deductible out-of-pocket and restrict supplements and health plans from covering the cost.
Require new enrollees to pay higher Part B deductibles that would increase by $25 in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Require all beneficiaries to pay new 20% co-insurance or co-pays for all services, including home healthcare and skilled nursing facilities, that have no cost-sharing now.
Allow the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to get lower prices.
Allow the re-importation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada and other nations where prescription drugs cost less.
Ramp up Medicare anti-fraud efforts.
Promote better integration of care to reduce duplication of tests, services, and expensive imaging.
Increase Medicare payroll taxes for all workers.
Increase Medicare payroll taxes on high-income workers only.
Proposals to change Social Security are also under debate. Please select the response that most closely agrees with how you feel about the proposal.
Require workers with incomes higher than $113,700 to pay Social Security taxes on up to $190,000 in wages.
Require workers with incomes higher than $113,700 to pay Social Security taxes on all of their wages.
Raise the age for full retirement benefits very gradually, by two months per year, to age 69 for people who are age 49 and younger.
Prohibit payment of Social Security benefits that are determined on unauthorized work of illegal immigrants.
Cut the rate of growth in the COLA by switching to a more slowly growing cost-of-living index.
Change the Social Security benefit formula so that it reduces the benefits of workers with high incomes.
Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
Are you retired military (20 years or more in the U.S. Armed Forces)?
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